quadrennial

adjective

qua·​dren·​ni·​al kwä-ˈdre-nē-əl How to pronounce quadrennial (audio)
1
: consisting of or lasting for four years
2
: occurring or being done every four years
quadrennial noun
quadrennially adverb

Did you know?

Most things quadrennial occur every four years (that's the more common use). We can say, for example, that the U.S. presidential election is a quadrennial event. But we can also say that president's term in office is quadrennial, making good use of the "lasting four years" sense. The Latin combining form quadri- adds a factor of four to many English words: quadriceps (the thigh muscle, which has four parts), quadrilateral (a four-sided polygon), quadragenarian (a person in his or her 40s), and quadricentennial (a 400th anniversary), to name a few. The -ennial part of quadrennial has the same root as in biennial and centennial; all trace back to annus, the Latin word for "year."

Examples of quadrennial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The documentary of the two major parties’ presidential nominees has been a quadrennial tradition, and its filmmaker, Michael Kirk, had weeks earlier screened a four-hour rough cut of Biden vs. Trump. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024 The quadrennial international soccer championship follows this summer’s Copa América games hosted in the U.S., which were riven with criticisms about the quality and conditions of the playing surfaces. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2024 Races will take place in its streets and in the river that makes up its heart and soul, and millions from around the world are making their way to France to take part in the quadrennial festivities. Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 25 July 2024 Thousands of Republicans, from a presidential candidate to grassroots party members, began assembling in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024, for that quadrennial political ritual, the party convention. Naomi Schalit, The Conversation, 15 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for quadrennial 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quadrennial was circa 1656

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Dictionary Entries Near quadrennial

Cite this Entry

“Quadrennial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrennial. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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