Annual vs. Yearly: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Annual" refers to something that pertains to a year, typically used in the context of events or reports. On the other hand, "yearly" describes something that occurs or is related to every year in a more general sense.
Key Differences
Annual is often used in formal or official contexts, like annual reports or meetings. Yearly, while also denoting something occurring every year, is more commonly used in general or everyday contexts.
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Nov 21, 2023
Annual carries a slightly more formal or official connotation, suggesting something planned and regular. Yearly, though similar, is used more broadly and can refer to any occurrence that happens once a year.
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Nov 21, 2023
Both annual and yearly indicate something that happens once a year, but annual is often associated with scheduled events, while yearly can refer to any occurrence or calculation on a yearly basis.
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Nov 21, 2023
The term annual is frequently used in specific combinations like annual subscription, annual report, or annual conference. Yearly is more versatile, used in a wider range of phrases like yearly check-up, yearly income, or yearly tradition.
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Using annual often implies an event or occurrence of significant importance or formality. Yearly might be employed for more routine, common occurrences or measurements.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Formality
More formal, often used in official documents or events.
Less formal, used in everyday language.
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Usage in Phrases
Common in specific combinations (e.g., annual meeting).
Used in a wide range of contexts.
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Context
Often implies planned, scheduled occurrences.
Broad, can refer to any occurrence or calculation each year.
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Connotation
Suggests importance or regularity in events.
More general, referring to regular occurrences.
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Examples of Use
Annual general meeting, annual report, annual celebration.
Yearly budget, yearly meeting, yearly vacation.
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Annual and Yearly Definitions
Annual
A book or report published once a year.
The financial department released the annual report.
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Yearly
Calculated over or relating to a year.
Her yearly income increased by 10%.
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Annual
A plant that lives for only one year.
Marigolds are a popular type of annual flower.
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Yearly
An annual occurrence.
The yearly health check-up is scheduled for next month.
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Annual
Relating to a period of one year.
The annual membership for the club is $100.
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Annual
An event that happens once a year.
The annual science fair attracts many young inventors.
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Yearly
Describing something that is done, produced, or experienced every year.
The yearly budget was discussed at the meeting.
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Annual
Recurring, done, or performed every year; yearly
An annual medical examination.
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Oct 19, 2023
Yearly
Happening once every year.
Christmas is a yearly celebration.
We deep-clean the kitchen on a yearly basis.
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Oct 19, 2023
Annual
(Botany) A plant that completes its entire life cycle in a single growing season.
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Annual
Happening once every year.
An annual general meeting;
An annual publication
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Annual
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.
An annual salary;
Average annual profits;
The annual course of the sun
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Annual
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.
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Annual
(entomology) Living or lasting just one season or year, as certain insects or insect colonies.
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Oct 19, 2023
Yearly
Happening, accruing, or coming every year; annual; as, a yearly income; a yearly feast.
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Annual
An annual publication; a book, periodical, journal, report, comic book, yearbook, etc., which is published serially once a year, which may or may not be in addition to regular weekly or monthly publication.
I read the magazine, but I usually don't purchase the annuals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Annual
(botany) An annual plant; a plant with a life span of just one growing season; a plant which naturally germinates, flowers and dies in one year. Compare biennial, perennial.
I can't wait to plant my annuals in the spring.
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Yearly
Accomplished in a year; as, the yearly circuit, or revolution, of the earth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Yearly
Annually; once a year to year; as, blessings yearly bestowed.
Yearly will I do this rite.
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Oct 19, 2023
Yearly
Occurring or payable every year;
An annual trip to Paris
Yearly medical examinations
Annual (or yearly) income
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Oct 19, 2023
Annual
Of or pertaining to a year; returning every year; coming or happening once in the year; yearly.
The annual overflowing of the river [Nile].
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Annual
Performed or accomplished in a year; reckoned by the year; as, the annual motion of the earth.
A thousand pound a year, annual support.
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Yearly
A synonym for annually.
We travel to the coast yearly for our vacation.
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Nov 21, 2023
Annual
Lasting or continuing only one year or one growing season; requiring to be renewed every year; as, an annual plant; annual tickets.
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Oct 19, 2023
Annual
A thing happening or returning yearly; esp. a literary work published once a year.
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Oct 19, 2023
Annual
Anything, especially a plant, that lasts but one year or season; an annual plant.
Oaths . . . in some sense almost annuals; . . . and I myself can remember about forty different sets.
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Oct 19, 2023
Annual
A Mass for a deceased person or for some special object, said daily for a year or on the anniversary day.
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Annual
A plant that completes its entire life cycle within the space of a year
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Annual
Occurring or payable every year;
An annual trip to Paris
Yearly medical examinations
Annual (or yearly) income
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Annual
Completing its life cycle within a year;
A border of annual flowering plants
The common buttercup is a popular perennial plant
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Annual
Occurring once every year.
The company holds its annual general meeting in July.
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Nov 21, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is annual used for events or periods?
Annual is often used for events or periods that occur once a year.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can annual be used for subscriptions or memberships?
Yes, annual is often used for subscriptions or memberships.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is yearly a more casual term than annual?
Yes, yearly is generally more casual and broadly used than annual.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are annual plants those that live for one year?
Yes, annual plants complete their life cycle in one year.
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Are annual reports issued by companies?
Yes, companies often issue annual reports.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does annual imply something significant or formal?
Annual often implies an event or occurrence of significant importance.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can yearly be used for health check-ups?
Yes, yearly is often used for regular occurrences like health check-ups.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does yearly have a more versatile usage?
Yes, yearly is versatile and used in various contexts.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can yearly refer to calculations like income?
Yes, yearly is commonly used for annual calculations like income.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is yearly suitable for describing regular family events?
Yes, yearly is suitable for describing regular events like family reunions.
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Do annual events happen on a fixed schedule?
Annual events typically occur on a regular, scheduled basis.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is yearly used in financial contexts?
Yes, yearly is frequently used in financial contexts.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can yearly be used to describe vacations?
Yes, yearly is suitable for describing regular vacations.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is an annual a type of publication?
Yes, an annual can refer to a publication issued once a year.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is annual commonly used in corporate language?
Yes, annual is frequently used in corporate and official language.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can yearly describe periodic budget discussions?
Yes, yearly is apt for describing periodic discussions like budget talks.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can yearly be used interchangeably with annually?
Yes, yearly can often be used interchangeably with annually.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are annual plants common in gardening?
Yes, annual plants are commonly used in gardening.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is yearly suitable for describing annual income?
Yes, yearly is commonly used to describe annual income.
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Nov 21, 2023
Do businesses use annual for yearly meetings?
Yes, businesses often use annual for yearly meetings or events.
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Nov 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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