Word
biweekly
Phoneticsbi·week·ly, stress on the second syllable
/baɪˈwikɫi/
Definition
adj. happening once every two weeks or twice each week. You have to check the context because it can mean both.
adj. occurring or published either twice a week or once every two weeks. Ambiguous without further context, so often clarified as 'twice-weekly' or 'fortnightly' to specify frequency.
Examples
“We have a biweekly team meeting on Fridays.”
“The clinic sends a biweekly newsletter with health tips and appointment reminders for patients.”
“Because biweekly can mean twice a week or every two weeks, the contract specifies payment on the first and fifteenth to avoid confusion.”
Examples
simple
“We have a biweekly team meeting on Fridays.”
contextual
“The clinic sends a biweekly newsletter with health tips and appointment reminders for patients.”
complex
“Because biweekly can mean twice a week or every two weeks, the contract specifies payment on the first and fifteenth to avoid confusion.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “biweekly” in context.
Verb
01. be biweekly
“The seminar is biweekly, so the next one is in two weeks.”
verb + adj
02. become biweekly
“The magazine became biweekly after losing subscribers.”
verb + adj
03. hold biweekly
“They hold biweekly meetings to review sales results.”
verb + adj
Noun
04. biweekly meeting
“We have a biweekly meeting to discuss project updates.”
adj + noun
05. biweekly newsletter
“I get a biweekly newsletter with useful job tips.”
adj + noun
06. biweekly paycheck
“Many workers in the US receive a biweekly paycheck.”
adj + noun
07. biweekly report
“She writes a biweekly report on customer feedback.”
adj + noun
08. biweekly session
“He attends a biweekly therapy session downtown.”
adj + noun
09. biweekly update
“The manager sends a biweekly update by email.”
adj + noun
10. hold a biweekly meeting
“We hold a biweekly meeting to plan our lessons.”
11. on a biweekly basis
“Staff are paid on a biweekly basis.”
12. publish a biweekly newsletter
“They publish a biweekly newsletter for parents.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often clarified as 'twice-weekly' or 'fortnightly' to avoid ambiguity.
Real-World Examples
“The service, which once offered weekly deliveries, has now been scaled back to biweekly due to escalating costs and declining donations.” “Having lost their daughter at 32 weeks, Benny participates in a support group biweekly.” Etymology
From bi- + week + -ly. The sense referring to twice a week can be analyzed as bi- + weekly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/biweekly