biannual

Biannual can mean two things: occurring once every two years or occurring twice per year.

Biannual is a synonym of biyearly, which can also be used to mean every two years or twice per year. (Biyearly can also mean “lasting for two years,” but this meaning is rarely used.)

The adverb form of biannual is biannually.

Examples:

• The Olympic Games are biannual, meaning they happen every two years.
• This is a biannual meeting—we have it in April and October.

The first records of biannual come from the 1870s. Bi- is a prefix meaning “twice” or “two,” and annual means “happening every year” or “once a year.”

People are often confused about whether to use biannual or biyearly and for good reason: both can mean “twice per year” or “every other year.” The thing to remember is that one isn’t more “correct” than the other. However, biannual is more commonly used than biyearly.

There are several other similar time-related terms that can make things even more confusing. Semiannual and semiyearly both mean occurring twice a year or lasting for half a year. Another word, biennial, means happening every two years or lasting for two years, but this is used less commonly than biannual or biyearly.

Yes, you can sometimes figure out what biannual means through the context of the sentence. But not always. When a coworker tells you a meeting is biannual, it probably means it happens twice a year, but it could also mean it happens every two years. (Hopefully it doesn’t mean that it lasts for two years.)

Here’s the best (and maybe only) way to be perfectly clear: just say “twice a year” or “once every two years.”

What are some other forms related to biannual?

• biannually (adverb)

What are some synonyms for biannual?

• biyearly
• biennial

What are some words that share a root or word element with biannual? 

• annual
• biweekly
• semiannual

What are some words that often get used in discussing biannual?

• year
• twice
• periodic
• event
• schedule
• meeting
• sale

What are some words biannual may be commonly confused with?

• biyearly
• biennial

Biannual is perhaps most commonly used to describe events that occur every two years, such as the Olympics, but this isn’t always the case, so it’s always best to make sure.

One biannual joy: every six months when I call to confirm an appointment, the receptionist at Mt. Sinai oncology still replies to me on the phone with "MR. MEAD!! how are we??"

— ᴅᴇʀᴇᴋ ᴍᴇᴀᴅ (@derektmead) January 9, 2019

I think its almost time for my bi-annual 'throw away all my socks and buy all new ones from Primark' day. IM EXCITED

— Joel Dommett (@joeldommett) April 16, 2012

Just remembered my biannual car insurance payment is due in June. Hate dropping that $450 twice a year since I turned 16 🥴🥴

— Reg (@Ginamazinn) May 21, 2020

To avoid confusion, what’s the best way to say twice a year? 

A. biyearly
B. biannual
C. biennial
D. twice a year