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

And unlike last year when Vucic was in power, Sunday's anniversary memorial was broadcast by state RTS television, following resignations among officials at the TV station in the post-election week. — Marko Drobnjakovic, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026

On the morning of the anniversary, four deer emerged from a reed thicket next to the lawn, and two Canada geese flew by. — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Set to arrive at retail in November is the Reebok Question Mid Recoded, a modernized update of Iverson’s first signature shoe in celebration of its 30th anniversary. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

Steph Sherer, the founder of the medical cannabis organization Americans for Safe Access, noted that the registrations were issued just days before the 30th anniversary of California becoming the first state to legalize the medical use of marijuana. — Gene Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

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