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

The spirit that still drives flight Today marks the 122nd anniversary of that historic morning, a moment that still resonates far beyond the windswept dunes of North Carolina. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025

In 2023, the team also celebrated Rita Ora modeling one of the squad’s 130th anniversary shirts. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2025

To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the restaurant is offering a special promotion honoring its origins — with one caveat aimed at helping others in the capital region. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025

This knowledge, along with the love of Austen that Knight witnessed during Pride and Prejudice's 200th anniversary in 2013, inspired a new endeavor. —Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 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