# biennial

/baɪˈɛniəɫ/ (US) · /baɪˈɛnɪəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/biennial
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. every two years

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

happening once every two years.

For teachers: occurring or taking place every other year; not to be confused with biannual.

- The city hosts a biennial art festival that attracts visitors every second summer.
- The association holds a biennial conference to review long-term strategic goals, ensuring members meet every two years to discuss progress.

### 2. lasting two years

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

lasting for a period of two years.

For teachers: having a duration of two years; specifically used in biology to describe a life cycle.

- The scientist studied the biennial life cycle of certain forest insects.
- The research project focused on the biennial growth patterns of specific alpine shrubs that remain dormant during their first winter.

### 3. a plant

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a plant that takes two years to grow, flower, and then die.

For teachers: a plant that completes its biological life cycle in two years, typically flowering in the second year.

- Carrots are a common biennial, though we usually harvest them in their first year.
- Gardeners often plant biennials like foxgloves in consecutive years to ensure they have blooms every summer.

### 4. an event

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an event, like an art show or sports competition, that happens every two years.

For teachers: an event that recurs every two years, most commonly used in the context of international art exhibitions.

- She was invited to show her paintings at the Venice Biennial.
- The city's photography biennial has become a major draw for international critics since its inception a decade ago.

## Examples

- The city hosts a biennial art festival every other summer.
- The committee holds a biennial review to assess the long-term impact of their environmental policies.
- While some species are annuals, this biennial plant focuses its first year on leaf growth and its second on flowering before completing its life cycle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.