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“Biannual” and “biennial” are often used interchangeably, but there are key differences between the two. Learn when and how to use “biannual” vs. “biennial.”
Understanding the difference between biannual and biennial can be crucial when planning or discussing events and activities that occur over time. Biannual refers to something that happens twice a year, typically once every six months.
Biannual as adjective: Biannual is used as an adjective in English language where it has only one meaning which is occurring twice a year. The biannual meeting of the planning committee. Biennial as adjective: Biennial is used as an adjective in English language where it means taking place every other year. The first of a series of biennial ...
Biannual and biennial are understandably easy to mix up. They look and sound similar; they have the same prefix, and they only differ by two letters. A good way to remember their respective meanings is that ennial and every both begin with “e,” so you can associate that with “every other year.”.
To explain the difference, let’s break the words down into parts. The prefix bi- means “two.”. Anni, enni, and annu come from the Latin word for “year.”. When something is biannual, it happens twice in one year. When something is biennial, it happens once every two years.
“Biannual” refers to something that happens twice in one year, while “biennial” means something occurs once every other year. “Semiannual” is interchangeable with “biannual” and also refers to things that happen twice a year.
Biannual means ‘twice per year.’. Biennial means ‘once every two years,’ ‘every other year,’ or ‘lasting for two years.’.
Distinguishing between biannual vs. biennial begins with a foundational understanding of their definitions, roles, and the contexts that beckon their use. This section lays the groundwork for navigating their differences and ensuring accurate application in our language.
Biannual means "twice a year," as does semiannual, whereas biennial means "occurring every two years."
Quick Definitions of Biannual, Biennial, and Semiannual. Biennial: occurring every two years or lasting for two years. Biannual: occurring twice a year or half-yearly. Semiannual: occurring twice a year or every six months.