adj

perennial

puh-REHN-ih-uhl

adj

Lasting for a very long time or recurring continually.

"Traffic congestion is a perennial problem in the city centre."

"She has a perennial optimism that nothing seems to shake."

Of a plant: living for more than two years, regrowing each season.

"Lavender is a perennial plant that comes back every spring."

noun

A plant that lives for several years, as opposed to an annual.

"The garden was full of hardy perennials that needed little care."

How to Use Perennial

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that keeps coming back or lasts a long time — describing either a recurring issue or a plant that survives year after year.

Easily confused with

annual → biennial

Common pairings

perennial favourite perennial problem perennial plant

perennials plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

Traffic congestion is a _____ problem in the city centre.

From Latin perennis, "lasting through the year", from per- ("throughout") + annus ("year").

dial vial trial aerial serial filial denial medial racial social burial facial