wedding anniversary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; the term is standard in all registers when referring to the event.
Quick answer
What does “wedding anniversary” mean?
The yearly recurrence of the date on which a couple was married.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The yearly recurrence of the date on which a couple was married.
The celebration or observance of the date of a marriage, often marked by specific traditional gifts (e.g., paper for 1st, silver for 25th). It can also refer to the event itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. The associated gift traditions (e.g., silver, golden) are largely shared. 'Anniversary' alone can contextually mean 'wedding anniversary' in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical in core meaning. Slight cultural differences may exist in typical celebration styles or gift expectations.
Frequency
Equally common and standard in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “wedding anniversary” in a Sentence
celebrate + wedding anniversaryit is + [possessive] + wedding anniversaryon + [possessive] + wedding anniversaryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wedding anniversary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They are anniversarying their silver wedding in the Lake District.
- We'll be anniversarying next week.
American English
- They are anniversarying their silver wedding in the mountains.
- We'll be anniversarying next week.
adverb
British English
- They celebrated anniversaryly with a quiet dinner.
- (Note: Extremely rare and non-standard)
American English
- They celebrated anniversaryly with a nice meal.
- (Note: Extremely rare and non-standard)
adjective
British English
- They went for an anniversary meal.
- We're planning an anniversary trip to Cornwall.
American English
- They went for an anniversary dinner.
- We're planning an anniversary trip to Florida.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the greeting card, hospitality, and jewellery industries (e.g., 'Our hotel offers wedding anniversary packages').
Academic
Rare, except in sociological or demographic studies on marriage and family.
Everyday
Very common in personal and social contexts to refer to the celebration.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “wedding anniversary”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “wedding anniversary”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wedding anniversary”
- Using 'marriage anniversary' is understandable but less common than 'wedding anniversary'.
- Incorrect: 'We have wedding anniversary today.' Correct: 'It is our wedding anniversary today.' or 'We are celebrating our wedding anniversary today.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used for every yearly recurrence, with special names for milestones (e.g., 25th=silver, 50th=golden).
Yes, in context (e.g., talking about your spouse), 'anniversary' is commonly understood to mean 'wedding anniversary'.
'Wedding day' refers specifically to the day the marriage ceremony took place. 'Wedding anniversary' refers to the yearly return of that date.
They are widely known and often used as a guide for gifts, but they are not strict rules. Modern lists also exist.
The yearly recurrence of the date on which a couple was married.
Wedding anniversary is usually neutral to formal; the term is standard in all registers when referring to the event. in register.
Wedding anniversary: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɛd.ɪŋ ˌæn.ɪˈvɜː.sər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɛd.ɪŋ ˌæn.əˈvɝː.sɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Tie the knot (for getting married, not the anniversary itself)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'wedding' (the ceremony) + 'anniversary' (yearly return). It's the yearly return of your wedding day.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A JOURNEY (hence marking milestones/anniversaries). TIME IS A MEASURABLE RESOURCE (counting the years).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a traditional gift for a 25th wedding anniversary?