biweekly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “biweekly” mean?
Occurring or appearing every two weeks.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Occurring or appearing every two weeks.
Can also ambiguously mean 'occurring twice a week' (this meaning is often avoided in formal contexts due to the inherent ambiguity).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'biweekly' for a publication or event is widely understood as 'every two weeks' (synonymous with 'fortnightly'), and the 'twice a week' meaning is rare and considered incorrect by many. In American English, both meanings exist, leading to significant ambiguity. The 'twice a week' meaning is more common in the US than in the UK.
Connotations
In business/HR contexts, it primarily connotes a pay schedule. In publishing, it connotes a magazine or journal schedule. The ambiguity often carries a connotation of poor communication or the need for clarification.
Frequency
More frequent in written business/professional contexts (e.g., 'biweekly meetings', 'biweekly payroll') than in casual everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “biweekly” in a Sentence
biweekly [noun][verb] biweeklypaid biweeklypublished biweeklyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “biweekly” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not commonly used as a verb]
American English
- [Not commonly used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- The team meets biweekly, on alternate Mondays.
- The journal is published biweekly.
American English
- We get paid biweekly, on Fridays.
- The service runs biweekly, but I'm never sure if that means twice a week or every other week.
adjective
British English
- She receives a biweekly pension.
- It's a biweekly magazine.
American English
- He is on a biweekly pay schedule.
- The committee holds biweekly conference calls.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common for describing payroll schedules, recurring meetings, or report frequency. E.g., 'We run a biweekly payroll.'
Academic
Used for journal publication schedules or seminar series. E.g., 'The journal shifted from monthly to biweekly publication.'
Everyday
Used, but often clarified. E.g., 'The bin collection is biweekly, so put it out next Thursday.'
Technical
Used in project management and scheduling software to define task recurrence.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biweekly”
- Using 'biweekly' without clarification when precision is needed.
- Assuming everyone understands it the same way.
- Confusing it with 'bimonthly' (which has the same dual ambiguity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In formal and business contexts, especially in the UK, 'every two weeks' is the dominant and recommended meaning.
Because it has two contradictory meanings ('every two weeks' and 'twice a week'), which can lead to significant miscommunication in schedules, payments, and publishing.
Use 'every two weeks', 'fortnightly' (UK), or 'twice a week' / 'semi-weekly' (though 'semi-weekly' is also sometimes ambiguous). Always specify if precision is required.
Yes, exactly. 'Bimonthly' can mean 'every two months' or 'twice a month'. It is equally ambiguous and should be clarified or avoided in precise communication.
Occurring or appearing every two weeks.
Biweekly is usually formal/neutral in register.
Biweekly: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪˈwiːkli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪˈwikli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Bi'cycle has TWO wheels, so 'bi'weekly happens every TWO weeks. For 'twice a week', remember 'semi' is half, so something happens twice in half a month? (This confusion is why the mnemonic is needed!). Better: Use 'fortnightly' for clarity.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CYCLE (divided into segments).
Practice
Quiz
In which variant of English is 'biweekly' LEAST LIKELY to be interpreted as 'twice a week'?