Annual: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'annual' for describing plants that complete their life cycle in one year.

• Marigolds are popular annual flowers in many gardens.
• She plants new annuals each spring to ensure vibrant blooms.

Use 'yearly' in informal contexts when referring to something that happens every year. It can be used interchangeably with 'annual', but is often less formal.

• We have a yearly family reunion every summer.
• The subscription must be renewed on a yearly basis.

Use 'annualized' when referring to financial data that has been adjusted to show what it would be for a full year, based on data from a shorter period. This is common in finance and accounting.

• The quarterly profits have been annualized to provide a more complete picture.
• The annualized interest rate gives a better idea of the yearly financial gain.

Use 'perennial' when referring to plants that live for more than two years and often bloom every season. It can also describe something that is continually recurring or enduring.

• Roses are a common example of perennial plants.
• She is a perennial favorite at this music festival.

Use this when referring to something that happens once a year.

• The company holds an annual meeting every March.
• The annual report is due next week.

This is best used for a publication, often by schools, that captures memories, achievements, and events from the past year.

• Our high school yearbook features photographs of every student.
• She looked back at her yearbook to reminisce about her high school days.

Use this for a publication that includes various factual information like weather forecasts, statistics, or dates, typically for a specific year.

• I consult the farmer's almanac to plan my gardening schedule.
• The almanac listed all the important astronomical events of the year.

Refer to this when you talk about a publication that is published at regular intervals, like weekly, monthly, or quarterly.

• She subscribes to several periodicals to stay updated in the field of science.
• The library has a vast collection of periodical literature.