English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

adjective

bimonthly

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Bimonthly (adjective) means happening once every two months. Example: “The committee holds bimonthly meetings, in January, March and May.”

adjective

1

Happening once every two months.

"The committee holds bimonthly meetings, in January, March and May."

"We receive a bimonthly gas bill."

2

Happening twice a month. This second, opposite sense is well established in usage, which is why the word is genuinely ambiguous and often avoided.

"The magazine's bimonthly issues land on the 1st and the 15th."

adverb

1

On either of those schedules; once every two months, or twice a month.

"Dividends are paid bimonthly."

noun

1

A publication issued on such a schedule.

"It started life as a bimonthly before going quarterly."

How to use bimonthly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEvery two months — or twice a month, which is why it is best to say which you mean.

When to use it

Neutral, but avoid it in contracts, invoices and schedules. Write 'every two months' or 'twice a month' instead.

Memory tip

The one-word form bimonthly is standard; bi monthly as two words is a misspelling and bi-monthly with a hyphen is a permitted variant.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

biweekly semi-monthly biannual → biennial →

Common pairings

bimonthly meeting bimonthly journal bimonthly payments bimonthly newsletter

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “bimonthly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The committee holds _____ meetings, in January, March and May.

Etymology

From the Latin prefix bi- 'two' plus monthly. The prefix can mean either 'every two' or 'twice', which is the source of the ambiguity.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

every two months every other month semi-monthly twice a month fortnightly bimestrial semimonthly

Related words

fortnightly

Rhymes for bimonthly

monthly

See all rhymes for bimonthly →

Frequently asked questions

Does bimonthly mean twice a month or every two months?

Both meanings are in genuine use and dictionaries record both, so the word cannot be relied on. Style guides recommend replacing it with 'every two months' or 'twice a month' whenever the difference matters, such as in a payment schedule.

What is the difference between bimonthly and semi-monthly?

Semi-monthly is unambiguous: it means twice a month. Bimonthly may mean twice a month or once every two months. If you want the twice-a-month meaning, semi-monthly is the safer word.

What is the difference between biannual and biennial?

Biannual means twice a year, and biennial means once every two years. Biennial is the reliable one; biannual is sometimes misused for the two-year sense, so spell it out if precision matters.

What is the meaning of bimonthly?

"bimonthly" (adjective) means happening once every two months.

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