What does "annual" mean?
An annual publication; a book, periodical, journal, report, comic book, yearbook, etc., which is published serially once a year, which may or may not be in addition to regular weekly or monthly publication.
Annual
/ˈæn.ju.əl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An annual publication; a book, periodical, journal, report, comic book, yearbook, etc., which is published serially once a year, which may or may not be in addition to regular weekly or monthly publication.
- Grammar: annual is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: one-year, yearly, academic year, account.
- Useful contrasts: biannual, biennial, biyearly.
- Usage evidence: Our company has annual sales of a thousand million yen.
How to use "annual"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "annual" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "annual" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "annual" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "annual" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "annual" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "one-year" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "annual", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An annual publication; a book, periodical, journal, report, comic book, yearbook, etc., which is published serially once a year, which may or may not be in addition to regular weekly or monthly publication.
"I read the magazine, but I usually don't purchase the annuals."
- 2 a reference book that is published regularly once every year wordnet
- 3 An annual plant; a plant with a life span of just one growing season; a plant which naturally germinates, flowers and dies in one year. Compare biennial, perennial.
"I can't wait to plant my annuals in the spring."
- 4 (botany) a plant that completes its entire life cycle within the space of a year wordnet
- 5 A medical checkup taking place once a year.
"Some routine annuals take a half hour and cost about $30."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A pantomime taking place once a year.
"Excellent work has been done by the Playgoers' Club in connection with its Christmas Pantomime Fund. Thousands of children who possibly otherwise would have little chance of witnessing one of the hardy annuals have been annually taken […]"
Adjective
- 1 Happening once every year. not-comparable
"an annual general meeting; an annual publication"
- 2 Of, for, or relating to a whole year, often as a recurring cycle; determined or reckoned by the year; accumulating in the course of a year; performed, executed, or completed over the course of a year. See also circannual. not-comparable
"an annual salary; average annual profits; the annual course of the sun"
- 3 Having a life cycle that is completed in only one growing season; e.g. beans, corn, marigold. See Annual plant in Wikipedia. Compare biennial, perennial. not-comparable
- 4 Living or lasting just one season or year, as certain insects or insect colonies. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 completing its life cycle within a year wordnet
- 2 occurring or payable every year wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Our company has annual sales of a thousand million yen."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "annual"?
Common synonyms include: one-year, yearly, academic year, account, account book, account rendered.
How do you use "annual" in a sentence?
Our company has annual sales of a thousand million yen.
How do you pronounce "annual"?
Pronounced /ˈæn.ju.əl/.
Etymology
First attested around 1382, borrowed from Late Latin annuālem, annuālis, related to Latin annālis, adjective form of annus (“year”). Used to categorize plants since 1710.