biweekly

Biweekly is a term used to describe two distinct cadences. It can mean occurring every two weeks or occurring twice within a single week. The intended meaning is often inferred from context, but the term can be confusing.

Etymology: Biweekly is formed from the prefix bi- meaning two and weekly meaning occurring every seven days. The spelling biweekly or bi-weekly is common; some prefer semiweekly for twice weekly, though that term is less common in everyday usage.

Ambiguity in usage: In payroll and publication, biweekly is often taken to mean every two weeks, while in scheduling it can be taken to mean twice per week. Because of this ambiguity, some style guides recommend avoiding biweekly when precision is required and instead use every two weeks or twice weekly.

Regional notes: American English tends to use biweekly to mean every two weeks, whereas British English speakers commonly use fortnightly to mean every two weeks and use weekly or twice weekly for twice a week. Clarity improves with explicit phrasing.

Related terms include fortnight, semimonthly, bimonthly, and semiweekly.