annual

Annual is a term with several related meanings in English. As an adjective, it describes something that happens once every year or lasts for one year. As a noun, annual can refer to a plant species that completes its entire life cycle within a single growing season, from germination to seed production, after which the plant dies. Annual plants are contrasted with biennials, which take two years to complete their life cycle, and perennials, which live for multiple years. Many crops, such as wheat, rice, and maize, are annuals in typical agricultural conditions, while flowers like marigolds and petunias are commonly grown as annuals in garden beds. The annual life cycle is influenced by climate and day length; some species can behave as annuals in one region and perennials in milder climates.

In timekeeping and organization, annual also denotes events or items that occur or are issued yearly. Examples include annual reports, annual budgets, annual conferences, and annual general meetings. The term can denote the corresponding time span, i.e., the year starting on a calendar date or the fiscal year used for accounting purposes. The word derives from the Latin annus, meaning year, and has cognates in many languages.

Usage notes: American and British usage align on the core senses, though some contexts prefer annual report or annual meeting to indicate formal yearly documents or gatherings.