semimonthly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Administrative
Quick answer
What does “semimonthly” mean?
Occurring, done, or published twice a month.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Occurring, done, or published twice a month.
An event, publication, or payment schedule with a frequency of two times per month, typically (but not necessarily) around the middle and end of the month.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is understood but rarely used in everyday British English. Terms like 'twice-monthly', 'fortnightly' (for every two weeks), or simply 'twice a month' are more common. In American English, it is more established, particularly in business, payroll, and publishing contexts.
Connotations
Slightly bureaucratic, formal, or technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general corpora, but moderate within specific professional domains (HR, accounting, periodicals). Higher relative frequency in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “semimonthly” in a Sentence
[adjective] + nounoccur/pay/publish + [adverb]on a + [adjective] + basisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “semimonthly” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Verb form is not standard for 'semimonthly']
American English
- [Verb form is not standard for 'semimonthly']
adverb
British English
- The committee meets semimonthly, usually on the first and third Mondays.
- Interest is calculated and applied semimonthly.
American English
- The journal is published semimonthly.
- Rent is paid semimonthly under this unusual agreement.
adjective
British English
- The semimonthly management briefing is scheduled for the 15th and the last Friday.
- Employees on a semimonthly pay cycle receive 24 paycheques a year.
American English
- The semimonthly newsletter is issued on the 10th and 25th.
- She prefers a semimonthly billing schedule for her clients.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in payroll (e.g., 'semimonthly paychecks'), billing cycles, and scheduled reports.
Academic
Used to describe the publication frequency of certain journals or seminar series.
Everyday
Very rare; paraphrases are used instead.
Technical
Used in publishing, finance, and project management to specify timing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “semimonthly”
- Using 'semimonthly' to mean 'every two weeks' (which is biweekly/fortnightly).
- Confusing it with 'bimonthly'.
- Incorrect stress: /ˈsɛmɪˌmʌnθli/ instead of /ˌsɛmɪˈmʌnθli/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Semimonthly' means twice a month (e.g., on the 1st and 15th, resulting in 24 periods a year). 'Fortnightly' (chiefly British) means every two weeks (e.g., every other Friday, resulting in 26 periods a year).
It is frequently confused with 'bimonthly'. For absolute clarity, it's often better to use the phrase 'twice a month'.
Rarely. It is primarily an adjective or adverb. One might say 'a semimonthly', but it's more common to say 'a semimonthly publication' or 'a semimonthly meeting'.
The primary stress is on the third syllable: /ˌsem·i·ˈmonth·ly/. Be careful not to stress the first syllable (/ˈsem·i·month·ly/ is a common error).
Occurring, done, or published twice a month.
Semimonthly is usually formal, business, administrative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms for this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'semi-' as 'half'. Half of a month's events/payments happen at one time. So, 'semimonthly' means splitting the month's schedule into two parts.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURABLE OBJECT (divided into halves).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following schedules is a true 'semimonthly' schedule?