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decennial

decennial

2 7.2
Happening every ten years
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈsɛn.i.əl/
translation icon : decenal
  • The city celebrated its decennial festival with parades, fireworks, and various cultural events.
  • decennial census

Examples

  • The 2000 decennial census will confirm that the Latino population in the United States now exceeds 32 million.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The reapportionment occurs with the second full congressional term following the publication of the decennial census.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The goal of reducing smoking is embedded in the Healthy People 2010 targets, the government's decennial public health goals for the nation.

    Academic text (2011)
  • State populations are determined by the decennial census, as prescribed in the Constitution: see Article I, Section 2.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The final census, the 1900 United States decennial census, offers the most complete demographic information.

    Academic text (1991)
  • To arrive at populations for an election year, I interpolate between decennial census figures.

    Academic text (2018)
  • In Pennsylvania, with 19 allotted representatives based on the decennial census, the top 19 vote-getters go to Congress.

    Blog text (31)
  • The decennial reallocation and redrawing of House districts is always destabilizing, and 2012 was no exception.

    Academic text (2013)
  • The British and subsequent Indian governments have since held a decennial census that has yielded a wealth of data that has in turn influenced ethno-religious rhetoric and politicking.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Every ten years, the community hosts a decennial reunion for all former residents to come together.

Synonyms

decadal
vsdecennial
4 6.3

Happening every ten years

is used for events celebrated every ten years rather than general decade matters

How Often

annual
721 1.0
biennial
3 5.8
triennial
1 7.2
quadrennial
4 7.2
quinquennial
  • Formal
8.7
decennial
2 7.2
centennial
16 4.8

Surface Forms

decennial positive

Morphology

decennial = decennium (opaque) = decenn + ial

The word uses the classical stem decenn- meaning 'ten years', but that stem is not a productive or transparent English base for most learners.

Etymology

Decennial comes from Latin decem 'ten' and annus 'year', like the word decade and annual. So it describes something that happens 'every ten years'.