biannual

/ˈbaɪˌænj(əw)əl/

Use biannual to describe something that happens two times a year. Cleaning out the garage may be a biannual project in your household, or your dentist might insist on biannual check-ups.

When you break apart the word biannual, it’s easy to remember what it means. The prefix bi-, meaning “two,” tips you off that this is something that happens twice. And you’re probably already familiar with annual, which describes something that happens once a year. Put it together and you have biannual: twice a year. Whether you’re describing formal events or the frequency of your haircuts, you can use biannual anytime you need to say that something happens twice a year.

Definitions of biannual

1. adjective

   occurring or payable twice each year
   synonyms: biyearly, half-yearly, semiannual

   periodic, periodical

   happening or recurring at regular intervals