anniversary
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for anniversary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The yearly date on which a significant past event, such as a wedding, is remembered or celebrated.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use anniversary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin anniversarius ("returning yearly"), from annus ("year") + versus, from vertere ("to turn").
Full origin of anniversary →Frequently asked questions
What does “anniversary” mean?
The word “anniversary” means the yearly date on which a significant past event, such as a wedding, is remembered or celebrated. In plain terms, the yearly date marking a past event.
How do you pronounce “anniversary”?
“Anniversary” is pronounced a-nih-VURS-ree (/ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “anniversary” in a sentence?
Here is “anniversary” used in a sentence: “They celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in Italy.”
What is another word for “anniversary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “anniversary” include anniv, yearday and yeartide.
What part of speech is “anniversary”?
“Anniversary” is a noun.
Where does the word “anniversary” come from?
The word “anniversary” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin anniversarius ("returning yearly"), from annus ("year") + versus, from vertere ("to turn").
Is “anniversary” a common word?
“Anniversary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between an anniversary and a birthday?
Both return once a year, but a birthday marks the day a person was born, while an anniversary marks any significant past event on its yearly date — a wedding, a first meeting, a company's founding. Every birthday is technically an anniversary of a birth, but not every anniversary is a birthday.
Does 'anniversary' only refer to weddings?
No. Weddings are the most common example, but an anniversary can mark any notable event remembered year after year — the anniversary of a business opening, a historic battle, a loved one's passing or a country's independence. The word simply means the yearly return of a meaningful date.
What are milestone wedding anniversaries called?
Certain years have traditional names, often linked to gift materials. The best known are the silver anniversary at 25 years, the ruby at 40, the golden at 50 and the diamond at 60. Earlier years have their own themes too, such as paper for the first and wood for the fifth.