anniversary
anniversary Lexical Profile
anniversary Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The date on which an event took place in a previous year, especially a wedding or historical milestone.
"Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the national park."
A celebration or commemoration held to mark the yearly return of a notable date or event.
"The couple planned a quiet dinner at their favorite restaurant for their anniversary."
• adjective
Relating to, occurring on, or commemorating the yearly recurrence of a past event or date.
"The publisher released a special anniversary edition of the classic novel with a new foreword."
Word Nuance & Usage
Because 'anniversary' etymologically means 'turning yearly,' the phrase 'annual anniversary' is redundant, and expressions such as 'six-month anniversary' are technically oxymoronic in formal writing, though common in everyday speech.
• Rhymes for anniversary
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Medieval Latin anniversarius ('returning yearly'), from Latin annus ('year') combined with versus ('turned'), the past participle of vertere ('to turn').