bimonthly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Administrative, Academic
Quick answer
What does “bimonthly” mean?
Occurring or produced every two months.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Occurring or produced every two months.
Also means occurring or produced twice a month; this dual meaning causes significant potential for ambiguity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The ambiguity is present in both varieties. Usage preferences are not strongly divided, though British English may show a slightly stronger default association with 'every two months' in publishing (e.g., 'a bimonthly journal').
Connotations
Primarily neutral/connoting a schedule. In unclear contexts, it connotes confusion and unreliability.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in formal written contexts (e.g., contracts, journals, reports), but often avoided in precise communication.
Grammar
How to Use “bimonthly” in a Sentence
Occurs [bimonthly] (as adverb)A [bimonthly] [noun] (as adjective)Published [bimonthly]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bimonthly” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not standard as a verb]
American English
- [Not standard as a verb]
adjective
British English
- The team holds a bimonthly progress review, though I'm never sure if it's twice a month or every other month.
- She subscribed to a bimonthly literary magazine.
American English
- The bimonthly safety inspection is scheduled for the first and third Monday.
- We switched to a bimonthly billing cycle to reduce administrative costs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for reporting schedules, payment plans, and recurring meetings, but clarity is often paramount; terms like 'semi-monthly payroll' are preferred.
Academic
Common for describing the publication frequency of journals and periodicals; readers must verify the intended meaning from the journal's own description.
Everyday
Rare in casual speech due to its ambiguity. More likely in written notices (e.g., 'bimonthly recycling collection').
Technical
Used in project management, publishing, and logistics, but often explicitly defined within the document.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bimonthly”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bimonthly”
- Assuming it has only one meaning. Using it without clarifying context. Believing 'fortnightly' (UK) is a direct synonym (it only means every two weeks).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can legitimately mean both. This is a well-known ambiguity in English. The intended meaning must be derived from context or explicitly stated.
Use 'every two months' or 'twice a month'. For payments, 'semi-monthly' is a clear alternative for 'twice a month'. In British English, 'fortnightly' means every two weeks.
Yes, exactly. 'Biweekly' suffers from the same dual meaning: every two weeks OR twice a week. The same advice applies: use clearer terms.
Look for context clues. If something happens in January, March, and May, it's 'every two months'. If it happens on the 1st and 15th of each month, it's 'twice a month'. In publishing, check the journal's masthead or website for clarification.
Occurring or produced every two months.
Bimonthly is usually formal, business, administrative, academic in register.
Bimonthly: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪˈmʌnθ.li/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪˈmʌnθ.li/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'bi-' as two. The confusion is: two WHAT? Two months between events? Or two events per month? To remember the ambiguity, picture a calendar with two question marks.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MEASURED INTERVALS / SCHEDULE IS A CYCLE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY reason many style guides advise against using 'bimonthly'?