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

World leaders are gathered Thursday in France to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 6 June 2024

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the most important day of the 20th century — June 6, 1944, forever known as D-Day. —Eric Hogan, National Review, 6 June 2024

By Sarah Thomson / Made by History June 6, 2024 6:00 AM EDT Today, President Joe Biden gives remarks at the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy to honor past military sacrifices and triumphs. —Sarah Thomson / Made By History, TIME, 6 June 2024

World & Nation Normandy honors World War II veterans on D-day’s 79th anniversary June 6, 2023 Nov. 22, 1963, the shocking day when President Kennedy was assassinated by a rifle-wielding ex-Marine while riding in a Dallas motorcade. —George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024

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

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