Quadrennially

Quadrennially is an adverb meaning occurring in or by means of a four-year cycle; quadrennial is the corresponding adjective describing something that occurs every four years or lasts four years. The noun quadrennium, though less common, denotes a four-year period. The term is used in formal or scholarly writing to refer to cyclical schedules or events.

Etymology: Quadrennially derives from Latin quadrennialis, from quadri- meaning four and annus meaning year, with the English suffix -al. The noun form quadrennium comes from Latin quadrennium, built on the same four-year idea.

Usage: The Olympic Games are a classic example of a quadrennial event, traditionally held every four years. Since 1994, the Winter Games have been on a four-year cycle offset from the Summer Games, so editions of the same discipline occur four years apart. Other quadrennial events include certain national elections or organizational review cycles. In general, quadrennial can describe any cycle that recurs every four years, or a four-year period in length.

See also: Related terms include biennial (every two years) and quinquennial (every five years).