biannual
/bai'ænjuəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Occurring twice each year: Describes an event, activity, or payment that happens two times in a single year.
- Payable twice each year: Describes a financial obligation, such as an interest payment or a membership fee, that is due two times per year.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The company holds biannual performance reviews in June and December.
- We pay a biannual subscription fee for the service.
- The journal publishes biannual issues, one in spring and one in autumn.
Advanced Usage
- "biannual meeting": A meeting that is scheduled to occur twice a year.
- The board's biannual meeting is a key event for strategic planning.
- "biannual assessment": An evaluation or review conducted two times per year.
- Employees undergo a biannual assessment to track their progress.
Variants and Related Words
- Semiannual (adj): A synonym meaning occurring or payable every half year or twice a year. (Note: "Biannual" and "semiannual" are often used interchangeably, though some style guides make a distinction.)
- Biennial (adj): A different word meaning occurring every two years. It is important not to confuse "biannual" (twice a year) with "biennial" (every two years).
Synonyms
- Semiannual: Happening twice yearly.
- Half-yearly: Occurring every half year.
- Twice-yearly: Taking place two times each year.
Antonyms
- Annual: Occurring once every year.
- Biennial: Occurring once every two years.
- Triennial: Occurring once every three years.
Common Confusions and Notes
- Biannual vs. Biennial: This is a frequent point of confusion. "Biannual" means twice a year. "Biennial" means once every two years. For clarity, many writers prefer to use "semiannual" for twice-yearly events and "biennial" for two-year events.
- While "biannual" can technically describe both occurrences and payments, in financial contexts, "semiannual" is very common (e.g., semiannual bond interest).
Adjective
- occurring or payable twice each year