semiannual

American  

[sem-ee-an-yoo-uhl, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈæn yu əl, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. Also occurring, done, or published every half year or twice a year; biannual.

2. lasting for half a year.

   a semiannual plant.

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semiannual British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˈænjʊəl /

adjective

1. occurring every half-year

2. lasting for half a year

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Usage

What does semiannual mean? Semiannual means twice a year (or, technically, once every half a year).The word semiyearly means the same thing as semiannual. The words biannual and biyearly can be synonyms of semiannual, but they can also mean once every two years (every other year).Although semiannual is only used to mean twice a year—not every two years—it can still be confusing. The best (and maybe only) way to be perfectly clear is to just say “twice a year.”It’s especially used to describe events, as in semiannual sale—a sale that happens twice a year.Less commonly, semiannual can also mean lasting for half a year, as in To participate in the semiannual internship, you must be available for the full six months.The adverb form of semiannual is semiannually.Examples: The dentist recommends a checkup every six months, so I guess I have to make my semiannual appointment.

Commonly Confused

See bi- ¹.

Other Word Forms

• semiannually adverb

Etymology

Origin of semiannual

First recorded in 1785–95; semi- + annual

Compare meaning

How does semiannual compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• biannual vs. semiannual

Related Words

• biannual