anniversary

noun

an·​ni·​ver·​sa·​ry ˌa-nə-ˈvərs-rē 

-ˈvər-sə-

plural anniversaries

1

: the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event

a wedding anniversary

broadly : a date that follows such an event by a specified period of time measured in units other than years

the 6-month anniversary of the accident

2

: the celebration of an anniversary

Examples of anniversary in a Sentence

the anniversary of the invasion

The exhibit will close on the 100th anniversary of the artist's death.

Recent Examples on the Web

To assess which employers met or exceeded workers’ expectations this year, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to produce our 10th anniversary editions of America’s Best Midsize Employers and America’s Best Large Employers. —Rachel Rabkin Peachman, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

The celebration of North Coast Rep’s 43rd anniversary season will benefit its Artists and Educational Programming. —Encinitas Advocate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

Celebrating a couple anniversaries this season, the 1985 and 2015 Royals World Series victories, 40 and 10 years respectively, the Royals Hall of Fame brought out the trophies and memorabilia from 2024 as part of the exhibit at the Commerce Bank Building in downtown Kansas City. —Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025

All these years later, it's been included on the anniversary edition of Get Lifted. —Michael Nied, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English anniversarie, from Medieval Latin anniversarium, from Latin, neuter of anniversarius returning annually, from annus year + versus, past participle of vertere to turn — more at annual, worth

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anniversary

• bursary
• cursory
• nursery

Kids Definition

anniversary

noun

an·​ni·​ver·​sa·​ry ˌan-ə-ˈvərs-(ə-)rē 

plural anniversaries

1

a

: the annual return of the date of a special event

b

: a date that follows such an event by a specified period of time

the 6-month anniversary of the accident

2

: the celebration of an anniversary

Etymology

Middle English anniversarie "anniversary," from Latin anniversarium (same meaning), literally "turning of the year," from annus "year" and versus "turned," from vertere "to turn" — related to converse, universe, versatile