annus horribilis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, literary, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “annus horribilis” mean?
A year of disaster or misfortune.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A year of disaster or misfortune; a terrible year.
A period marked by successive calamities, personal or public tragedies, or a series of unfortunate events, often used retrospectively to characterize an exceptionally difficult time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English due to its Latin origin and association with Queen Elizabeth II's 1992 speech. In American English, it is understood but used less frequently, often in academic or high-register contexts.
Connotations
In UK usage, it carries strong associations with the monarchy and public institutional crises. In US usage, it may sound more deliberately erudite or classical.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both varieties; primarily found in written commentary, history, and retrospectives.
Grammar
How to Use “annus horribilis” in a Sentence
[Year/Period] was an annus horribilis for [Person/Institution]to describe [Year] as an annus horribilisto dub [Year] an annus horribilisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “annus horribilis” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- 1992 was dubbed an annus horribilis for the Royal Family.
- The historian characterised 1348 as an annus horribilis due to the Black Death.
American English
- The company's annus horribilis was marked by a major data breach and falling stocks.
- For many, 2020 felt like a global annus horribilis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in annual reports or executive summaries to describe a year of significant losses, scandals, or market downturns.
Academic
Used in historical texts to characterize a specific year marked by wars, plagues, or political collapse.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might be used humorously or ironically to describe a personally bad year.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields; reserved for humanities, history, and commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “annus horribilis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “annus horribilis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “annus horribilis”
- Using it prospectively (e.g., 'Next year will be an annus horribilis').
- Misspelling as 'annus horibilis' or 'horribilus'.
- Using it for a period shorter or longer than a year.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing 'annus' on the second syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The direct opposite is 'annus mirabilis', a Latin phrase meaning 'wonderful year' or 'year of wonders'.
No, by definition it refers specifically to a year ('annus'). For shorter periods, phrases like 'a horrible month' or 'a week from hell' would be used.
It was famously used by Queen Elizabeth II in a speech in 1992 to describe a year that included fires at Windsor Castle and marital breakdowns within the Royal Family.
It is a singular noun phrase. The plural would be 'anni horribiles'.
A year of disaster or misfortune.
Annus horribilis is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
Annus horribilis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌanəs hɒˈrɪbɪlɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌænəs hɔːˈrɪbɪlɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a year from hell”
- “a nightmare of a year”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a calendar (ANNUS) where every month is HORRIBLE (HORRIBILIS). The 'horrible' year.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (for events). A YEAR IS A JOURNEY (through misfortune).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate use of 'annus horribilis'?