quadrennial

English

Alternative forms

• quadriennial

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin quadriennium (“four-year period”), from quattuor (“four”) + annus (“year”). By surface analysis, quadr- +‎ -ennial.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kwɒˈdɹɛn.i.əl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /kwɑˈdɹɛni.əl/
• Rhymes: -ɛniəl

Adjective

quadrennial (not comparable)

1. Happening every four years.

   Synonym: (rare) quadannual

   • 1852, Millard Fillmore, State of the Union Address:

     The quadrennial election of Chief Magistrate has passed off with less than the usual excitement.

2. Lasting for four years.

Derived terms

• quadrennially

Related terms

• triennial
• biennial
• perennial
• annual

Translations

happening every four years

• Danish: firårig
• Polish: coczteroletni

lasting for four years

• Danish: firårig
• Polish: czteroletni (pl)

Noun

quadrennial (plural quadrennials)

1. A four-year period, a quadrennium.
   • 2002, Rowing News (volume 9, number 14, page 20)

     International rowing's elite tend to think in terms of quadrennials — the four-year cycle between Olympic Games — but the addition of the light women's double to Olympic program prior to the 1996 Atlanta Games has also brought distinct eras to the event.