In both cases, it’s commonly understood to mean twice monthly or once every other week, usually taking place on the same day of the week. Biannual is more straightforward, as it’s only used to mean twice a year. In this case, the prefix bi- us is used to mean “occurring twice.” Use the word biennial to describe events occurring once every two years. We’ll dive deeper into the meaning of biweekly, why it sometimes confuses people, provide synonyms to avoid uncertainty, and discuss other time-related words that use the bi- prefix. Biweekly can mean twice a week or once every two weeks, but most people use it to refer to the latter. There are times, however, when a biweekly meeting on your work schedule may occur twice a week.

Understanding these nuances guarantees clear communication, whether referring to publishing schedules, payroll, or other recurring events. There are also many similar words to biweekly, like biennial for intervals happening every two years or bi-hourly for breaks happening every second hour. Every time a word with the prefix bi- in front of it comes up, make sure to look at the usage notes to understand and use the word in the most accurate and precise way. For example, if you use the word semiweekly, you can be referring to something that happens every Monday and every Thursday.

Can ‘Biweekly’ Refer to Events Occurring Twice in One Day?

In professional settings, ‘biweekly’ often describes the frequency of meetings or pay periods. This term is essential for maintaining effective communication and scheduling within organizations. Understanding the exact meaning of ‘biweekly’ can prevent confusion and promote smooth operations.

• There are countless tasks in our lives that we do regularly.
• But newspapers that are called biweeklies are most commonly published twice a week—such as on every Monday and Thursday.
• Therefore, both meanings are grammatically right, even if the majority of people interpret it to imply once every 2 weeks.
• There are several words containing the bi-prefix that are frequently mistaken, but biweekly happens to be among the most popular ones.

Biweekly means both, but most American English speakers use it to refer to something occurring every other week or twice monthly. Biweekly may also be used as a noun to describe a newspaper or magazine that prints once every two weeks. Easier to track with biweekly schedules since it aligns better with a 40-hour work week. But the thing that makes this word so simultaneously exciting and confusing is that it actually has two generally accepted meanings. It’s one of those words where the context is one of the most essential parts of the word’s use.

Origins of the Term

A biweekly meeting with your manager takes place once every two weeks unless otherwise specified. A semiweekly meeting, on the other hand, occurs twice a week. British people use the word fortnight—which derives from the old English word for “fourteen nights”—to refer to events that occur once every two weeks. Although this is an acceptable synonym for biweekly, it’s not a common term for American English speakers. ‘Biweekly’ means occurring every two weeks, while ‘semimonthly’ means occurring twice a month.

Biweekly has its roots in the Latin word ‘bis,’ meaning ‘twice.’ This prefix ‘bi-‘ combines with ‘weekly’ to form ‘biweekly.’ The term has been in use since the 15th century. On the other hand, something that is bi-weekly would be something that happens on a specific day every other week, like every other Saturday. If you are taking biweekly classes or have a biweekly meeting, the odds are good that it is happening every other week. A biweekly publication or biweekly magazine is released every other week. I never know if ‘biweekly’ is supposed to mean “twice a week” or “occurring once every two weeks”. This means that paychecks will be issued once every two weeks, usually on the same day.

The term “biweekly” is mainly employed in professional contexts to refer to the meetings’ frequency or the frequency of employee payments. Unless otherwise noted, you and your supervisor will meet once in two weeks for a biweekly meeting. In contrast, the semiweekly meeting takes place twice per week. Unravel the dual meanings of “biweekly” with examples and tips for clear communication, whether it means twice a week or every two weeks. Discover the correct usage and alternatives to avoid confusion in scheduling and terminology.

Commonly Confused Words: Biweekly vs. Fortnightly vs. Semi-weekly

It specifically refers to occurrences either twice a week or once every two weeks, depending on the context in which it is used. However, just like the word biweekly, a common misconception is that bimonthly is used to describe something that happens twice a month. While it may be technically less correct than the word semimonthly, it’s still something to keep your eyes out for. According to the dictionary of the English language, the word biweekly (baɪˈwiːklɪ) is an adjective or adverb that is used to describe an event that occurs twice a week or every two weeks. Anything that happens in that time period can be identified as biweekly. Two times per week or one time every two weeks are both acceptable definitions of “biweekly,” but most individuals use the latter.

• If billiards has the reputation of being a pastime for gamblers, hustlers and hangers-on, the female-centric biweekly pool tournament at 4100 Bar offers a friendly, supportive alternative.
• However, many things actually happen on a biweekly basis, whether we intend for them to or not.
• For instance, ‘bimonthly’ can mean either twice a month or once every two months.
• Some weekly chores might include getting gas for a car, posting on social media, or doing laundry.

On your job calendar, a biweekly official meeting could, nevertheless, happen twice every week at times. The word ‘biweekly’ reflects the flexible nature of language, adapting to different contexts and needs. Understanding its origins helps clarify its dual meanings and their historical development. The word biweekly may sometimes have a dash between the prefix bi and the rest of the word. Whether someone is describing a bi-weekly paycheck or biweekly payment plans, it’s essential to know that both are accepted forms of the word.

In most cases, the word biweekly is used to describe things that happen every two weeks. For example, if you have a biweekly paycheck, that means you receive paychecks roughly every two weeks. If you are a borrower making biweekly payments to a lender, that means you are making payments approximately every fourteen days. This is a widespread pace for many different lenders and organizations when dealing with large numbers of consistent recurring payments. One of the most popular ways to speak with more clarity when using this word is to switch the prefix bi with the prefix semi.

Is biweekly the same as fortnightly?

Understanding these terms can help avoid miscommunication in planning schedules and events. Using ‘fortnight’ can be more specific and eliminate ambiguity. These examples illustrate how ‘biweekly’ can describe various schedules and routines. To avoid confusion, it is important to specify the exact intervals. Using terms like ‘every two weeks’ or ‘twice a month’ can provide clarity and make sure that everyone is on the same page.

But what about when you’re at the mercy of English as it’s wielded by others? Semiweekly is another word for biweekly; it simply means “twice per week.” Semi- is a prefix that denotes partially or half. Many people wonder about the difference between ‘biweekly’ and ‘fortnight.’ ‘Biweekly’ can mean either twice a week or once every two weeks, which often leads to confusion.

This makes it much easier to know what the person is talking about. While biweekly can technically and lexically mean two different things, semi-weekly only has one singular meaning. If a publication is published biweekly, it usually means it comes out every two weeks. But newspapers that are called biweeklies are most commonly published twice a week—such as on every Monday and Thursday. Biweekly is most commonly used to refer to the cadence of meetings or paychecks.

In professional settings, ‘biweekly’ is biweekly meaning often used to describe meeting schedules or pay frequencies. For example, biweekly pay means receiving paychecks once every two weeks. It is important to clarify the intended meaning when using the term. Biweekly is most often used in professional settings to describe the frequency of meetings or how often workers are paid.