What does anniversary mean?
An anniversary is the date on which a particular event occurred in a previous year, especially when that date recurs annually and is marked by celebration or commemoration. The word applies to personal milestones such as weddings, as well as public occasions like the founding of an institution, the release of a notable work, or a significant historical event. In everyday use, 'wedding anniversary' is among the most common applications, and certain milestones carry traditional names — the silver anniversary for twenty-five years, the golden for fifty, and the diamond for sixty or seventy-five. Anniversaries carry warm, often sentimental connotations, though they can also mark somber commemorations, such as the anniversary of a tragedy or a person's death. Derived from Latin roots meaning 'the turning of the year,' the word captures the human impulse to mark time's passage by returning, year after year, to the moments that matter most.
nounThe date on which an event took place in a previous year, especially one celebrated or commemorated annually, such as a wedding, founding, or death.
- The annual recurrence of the date of a past event, especially one marked by celebration or commemoration (e.g., a wedding anniversary).
- The celebration or commemoration held on such a date.
"They celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary with a trip to the coast."
"The city gathered to mark the anniversary of its founding."
"They exchanged gifts to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary."
Standard English plural, following the regular -y → -ies pattern for nouns ending in a consonant plus y.
"Over the years, they had celebrated many anniversaries together."
The word 'anniversary' literally means 'turning of the year' — it comes from Latin 'anniversarius', combining 'annus' (year) and 'vertere' (to turn), so every anniversary is the year completing another full turn.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anniversary
Anniversary derives from the Latin 'anniversarius', formed from 'annus' (year) and the past participle of 'vertere' (to turn), literally meaning 'returning yearly' or 'the turning of the year.' The term passed into English via Old French and was established in English usage by the late Middle Ages, originally in religious contexts marking the annual observance of saints' days and the deaths of loved ones. It shares its Latin root 'annus' with related words such as 'annual', 'perennial', and 'annuity'.
How anniversary is actually used
Anniversary is a neutral, everyday word used in both formal and informal contexts. It most commonly refers to wedding anniversaries, but is also widely used for historical events, institutional foundings, and deaths. Milestone anniversaries have traditional names: silver (25th), golden (50th), and diamond (60th or 75th).
Easily confused with anniversary
A birthday marks the date of a person's birth each year, while an anniversary marks the yearly recurrence of any significant event, such as a wedding or a historical occasion.