biennial
/baɪˈɛn.i.əl/
BAꞮƐN · i · əl (3 syllables)
English
Adj
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Definition
Happening every two years.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin bienni(um) (“two-year period”) [from bis, bi- (“twice”) + annus (“year”)] + -al (suffix forming adjectives). By surface analysis, bi- + -ennial.
Example Sentences
- "This is a marked difference from the task force’s previous guidance, which was to start biennial mammograms by age 50."
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