anniversary

noun

an·​ni·​ver·​sa·​ry ˌa-nə-ˈvərs-rē How to pronounce anniversary (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The coin was issued to commemorate the United States’ 150th anniversary. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Tommy White Rated PG-13, 1 hour 37 minutes Hank, an American living in Australia, is now trying to be a gentle giant, one who’s celebrating his one-year anniversary of sobriety and who clearly suffers from lingering emotional trauma. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 This fall marks the 20th anniversary of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, the cult classic, semi-anachronistic retelling of the young queen’s life of luxury and lovelessness in 18th-century France. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 As a correspondent for the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Akiyama was chosen out of his 162 fellow employees who applied to fly to space in celebration of the network’s 40th anniversary. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anniversary

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of anniversary was in the 13th century

Rhymes for anniversary

See All Rhymes for anniversary

Browse Nearby Words

Anniston
anniversary
anniversary clock
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anniversary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anniversary. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

anniversary

noun
an·​ni·​ver·​sa·​ry ˌan-ə-ˈvərs-(ə-)rē How to pronounce anniversary (audio)
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

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