two-year

Language: en

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Lasting for or covering a period of two years; having a duration of two years.; Of or relating to a child or animal that is two years old.; Occurring every two years; biennial.; Designed to be completed or fulfilled within a two-year timeframe, as in a contract or plan.
  2. noun
    A two-year-old child or animal.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Collocations

two-year programtwo-year degreetwo-year contracttwo-year plantwo-year periodtwo-year warranty

Derivatives

two-year-oldtwo-yearly

Synonyms

24-monthbiennial

Commonly confused

two-years
EN: 'Two-year' (singular 'year') is correct as a compound adjective before a noun; 'two years' (no hyphen, plural) is used as a noun phrase, e.g., 'It lasted two years.'
biennial
EN: 'Biennial' means occurring every two years or lasting two years (often for plants/events); 'two-year' is a more general attributive adjective for any duration of two years.
biannual
EN: 'Biannual' means twice a year (every six months), not once every two years; 'two-year' refers to a duration of two years.

Spelling tips

EN: Always hyphenate 'two-year' when used as an adjective before a noun, and keep 'year' singular (not 'two-years'). Compare: 'a two-year contract' vs. 'the contract lasted two years.'

💬 Examples

  1. She enrolled in a two-year program at the community college.

  2. The two-year-old toddler was already speaking in short sentences.

  3. The two-year conference brings together researchers from around the world.

  4. The government announced a two-year plan to reduce carbon emissions.

  5. The two-year was running around the playground with boundless energy.