# annual

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈæn.ju.əl/ · frequency rank #1,211

## Definitions
1. Happening once every year.
2. Of, for, or relating to a whole year, often as a recurring cycle; determined or reckoned by the year; accumulating in the course of a year; performed, executed, or completed over the course of a year. See also circannual.
3. Having a life cycle that is completed in only one growing season; e.g. beans, corn, marigold. See Annual plant in Wikipedia. Compare biennial, perennial.
4. Living or lasting just one season or year, as certain insects or insect colonies.

## Etymology
First attested around 1382, borrowed from Late Latin annuālem, annuālis, related to Latin annālis, adjective form of annus (“year”). Used to categorize plants since 1710.

## Easily confused with
- **annum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/annual-vs-annum)
- **annular** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/annual-vs-annular)
- **annually** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/annual-vs-annually)
- **anna** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/anna-vs-annual)
- **anal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/anal-vs-annual)
- **Annan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/annan-vs-annual)
- **actual** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actual-vs-annual)
- **animal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/animal-vs-annual)
- **annals** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/annals-vs-annual)

## Common misspellings (6)
`annaul`, `annuall`, `annula`, `anual`, `anunal`, `nanual`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/annual