twice-yearly

IPA/twˈaɪsjˈiəli/
IPA/twˈaɪsjˈɪɹli/

twice-yearly — adjective

1. happening or done two times in a twelve-month period

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

happening or done two times in a twelve-month period

Example

The local school board holds a twice-yearly meeting to discuss the budget.

twice-yearly + noun (meeting)

Eshe schedules a twice-yearly dental checkup for her two children every January and July.

verb + twice-yearly + noun (checkup)

Common collocations
  • twice-yearly meeting
  • twice-yearly checkup
  • twice-yearly report
  • twice-yearly review
  • twice-yearly payment
Synonyms
  • semiannual

    more formal; common in finance, legal, and academic writing

  • biannual

    less common than 'semiannual'; avoid confusing with 'biennial' (every two years)

Grammar Patterns

twice-yearly + noun

verb + twice-yearly

Usage Note

Can also be placed after a verb as an adverb without a hyphen: The committee meets twice yearly.

Common Mistakes

We attend a twice-year meeting.
We attend a twice-yearly meeting.
The compound form keeps the '-ly' ending even when used before a noun.