quinquennial

[ kwin-kwen-ee-uhl, kwing- ]

adjective

1. of or lasting for five years.
2. occurring every five years.

noun

1. something that occurs every five years.
2. a fifth anniversary.
3. a five-year term in office.
4. a quinquennium.

quinquennial

/ kwɪnˈkwɛnɪəl /

adjective

1. occurring once every five years or over a period of five years

noun

1. another word for quinquennium
2. a fifth anniversary

Derived Forms

• quinˈquennially, adverb

Other Words From

• quin·quenni·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of quinquennial¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin quīnquenni ( s ) of five years + -al ¹

Example Sentences

He could emerge as head of the resurrected Central Financial Work Commission, when state leaders, regulators and top bankers gather for a quinquennial, closed-door national financial work conference.

From Reuters

Ms. Schultze-Bluhm, who went by just Ursula in her professional life, participated in big shows, like the quinquennial Documenta in Kassel, Germany, along with art giants like Andy Warhol.

From New York Times

War rages in Ukraine, inflation grips the U.S. economy, gas prices are through the roof and baseball owners and players spent all winter haggling over a new collective bargaining agreement in the quinquennial battle of billionaires vs. millionaires.

From Los Angeles Times

Athens’s current reputation as an up-and-coming art hub was sealed in 2017, when the arts organization Documenta chose the city to serve, along with Kassel, Germany, as a host of its much-anticipated quinquennial exhibition.

From New York Times

When documenta, the quinquennial organized out of Kassel, Germany, chose Kabul as a satellite location for the 13th edition of the show in 2012, Mexican artist Mario García Torres highlighted Boetti’s legacy in his own installation.

From Los Angeles Times