decennial

The government conducts a decennial census to count the population.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Occurring every ten years: "decennial" describes events, celebrations, or activities that take place once every decade.
   • Lasting for ten years: "decennial" can also refer to something that continues or exists for a period of ten years.

2. Noun:

   • A tenth anniversary: "decennial" is used as a noun to mean the celebration or observance of a ten-year period, such as a decennial anniversary.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The census is a decennial event in many countries. (The census happens every ten years.)
  • The decennial review of the company's policies is scheduled for next month. (The review occurs once every decade.)

• Noun:

  • The university celebrated its decennial with a grand ceremony. (The university marked its tenth anniversary.)

Advanced Usage

• "decennial census": a specific term for a population count conducted every ten years.

  • The United States conducts a decennial census to determine congressional representation. (The census occurs every decade.)

• "decennial celebration": an event marking a ten-year milestone.

  • The town held a decennial celebration for its founding. (The celebration was for the tenth anniversary.)

Variants and Related Words

• Decennium (n): a period of ten years; a decade.

  • The project spanned a full decennium. (The project lasted ten years.)

• Decennially (adv): every ten years; once per decade.

  • The committee meets decennially to review progress. (The committee meets once every ten years.)

Synonyms

• Decadal: relating to a period of ten years.
• Ten-yearly: occurring every ten years (less formal).

Related Idioms

• None directly associated with "decennial"; however, the concept of a decade is often used in idioms like "turn of the decade", meaning the time around the end of one ten-year period and the start of another.