What does annal mean?
An annal is a record of events kept year by year, forming part of what are collectively called annals — chronological accounts maintained by institutions such as monasteries, governments, and scholarly societies. In modern English the word almost always appears in its plural form, 'annals', as in 'a feat unmatched in the annals of sport'; the singular 'annal', denoting a single year's entry, survives chiefly in dictionaries and specialized historical discussion. Annals differ from continuous histories in that they are organized strictly by year rather than woven into narrative interpretation, giving them a terse, factual character. The term carries a formal, academic connotation and evokes long institutional memory — medieval monks, Roman priests, and royal chroniclers all kept annals. For general readers, knowing the word is useful mainly for understanding references to 'the annals of' a field, a phrase that signals something historic or record-setting within that domain.
nounA record of events arranged year by year; the singular form of the more commonly used plural 'annals'. In practice the word almost always appears in its plural form.
- A historical record of events compiled year by year, typically in the singular form corresponding to the plural 'annals'.
"The monastery's annal for the year 1066 noted only a brief entry about the comet."
"Each monk contributed an annal recording the notable events of his year at the abbey."
"The discovery was hailed as unprecedented in the annals of medical science."
The plural 'annals' is by far the commoner form and is the usual way to refer to year-by-year records collectively; the singular 'annal' is seldom used outside dictionaries and specialist contexts.
"Her achievement secured her place in the annals of exploration."
The word 'annal' is almost never used alone — even dictionaries list it mainly so they can point you to 'annals', making it one of English's most famous singular-in-name-only words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of annal
'Annal' derives from the Latin 'annalis', itself from 'annus', meaning year, via the phrase 'libri annales' — the books kept by the Roman pontifices recording events year by year. The word entered English in the early modern period, when scholars revived classical terminology for chronicles; it shares its root with 'annual', 'perennial', and 'anniversary', all ultimately descended from the Latin 'annus'. Its sibling form 'annals' became the dominant English usage, leaving the bare singular comparatively obscure.
Related word forms
How annal is actually used
'Annal' in the singular is genuinely rare and may strike readers as pedantic or unusual; writers should normally use the plural 'annals' when referring to year-by-year records. The noun is formal in register and belongs chiefly to historical, academic, and institutional writing.
Easily confused with annal
'Annals' is the standard plural form used to refer to yearly records as a whole, while 'annal' is the rarely used singular referring to a single year's record.
'Annual' describes something that happens or recurs once a year, whereas 'annal' is a written record of a year's events.