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

Santana said many survivors are having a tough time as the anniversary of the fires approaches. —Liz Baker, NPR, 1 Jan. 2026

On New Year’s Day, America250, the nonpartisan effort that Congress established in 2016 to plan for the anniversary, will have a float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 Jan. 2026

The facade also features words from a speech that Obama gave to mark the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches, the grassroots civil rights protests that helped secure African Americans’ right to vote through the Voting Rights Act of 1965. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026

The year 2049 is significant in the Chinese political imagination as the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China under Chairman Mao Zedong. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 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