perennial

American  

[puh-ren-ee-uhl] / pəˈrɛn i əl /

adjective

1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring.

   As my grandmother aged, I marveled at her perennial beauty.

   Synonyms:

   continual, incessant, constant, perdurable

2. (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.

3. lasting or continuing throughout the entire year.

   The interpretive boardwalk follows a perennial stream through the marsh to the lake.

4. arising repeatedly or always existing; perpetual; recurrent.

   Tie dye is a perennial hit with children of all ages.

   The perennial rivalry between the two colleges ramps up during football season.

   Synonyms:

   immortal, eternal, undying, imperishable

5. Sometimes Perennial relating to or being an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes; ageless.

   Many companies are seeking to retain their perennial workers so as not to lose institutional history.

   This writer is a Perennial thinker, which is why he is successful and yet not really popular.

---

noun

1. a plant with a life cycle lasting more than two years.

   Daffodils and tulips are perennials.

2. something that is continuing, recurring, or enduring.

   Classical literature remains a perennial in liberal arts classrooms.

3. Sometimes Perennial an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes.

   At 81, the mayor calls herself a Perennial with no plans to retire.

perennial British  

/ pəˈrɛnɪəl /

adjective

1. lasting throughout the year or through many years

2. everlasting; perpetual

---

noun

1. a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two years Compare annual biennial

perennial Scientific  

/ pə-rĕn′ē-əl /

1. Living for three or more years.

---

1. A perennial plant. Herbaceous perennials survive winter and drought as underground roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms, or tubers. Woody perennials, including vines, shrubs, and trees, usually stop growing during winter and drought. Asters, irises, tulips, and peonies are familiar garden perennials.

2. Compare annual biennial

Other Word Forms

• perenniality noun
• perennially adverb

Etymology

Origin of perennial

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin perenni(s) “lasting the whole year through” ( per- per- ( def. ) + -enn-, stem of annus “year” + -is, adjective suffix) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Perennial typically describes things that are permanent, constant, or repeated. If you fight with your parents every year over whether they really must invite your annoying cousins for Thanksgiving, you could call that a perennial conflict. Arguing with your roommate about who cleaned the bathroom last time might be a perennial argument. There is also a perennial plant, which lasts more than two years and usually reappears each spring, because it produces flowers and seeds from the same root structure. Perennial comes from the Latin perennis, from the prefix per-, "through," plus annus, or "year." Annus is also the source of our English word annual — an annual plant lives only one year or season.

Example Sentences

By the time Vachon left after seven seasons, the Kings were a perennial playoff contender.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” was a rarity in describing a jobless man begging for change, but most jazz standards and popular songs stuck to the perennial themes of love and romance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

The Razgrad side only need one more title for a world record, but after 26 games it is Levski who are nine points clear of the perennial winners and on course to wreck that streak.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Black and white is a perennial favorite of the stars, and best actress nominee Rose Byrne embraced it, while also adopting the spring trend in a strapless black Dior gown covered in white blooms.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

It’s like how perennial plants seem to die in the winter, but really, they’re just waiting till everything is all right again.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• chronic
• continual
• continuing
• eternal
• never-ending
• persistent
• recurrent
• seasonal