jubilee
JOO-bih-lee
/ˈdʒuː.bɪ.liː/
A special anniversary of an event, especially one celebrating fifty (or twenty-five, sixty, seventy) years of a reign or institution.
Implies grand, public celebration marking a major multi-decade benchmark.
The story behind the word. In ancient Hebrew tradition, the 'yōbhēl' was a ram's horn sounded every fifty years to herald a sacred year of liberation, land restitution, and debt forgiveness. The word moved into Greek ('iobelaios') and Latin ('iubilaeus'), blending with the Latin verb 'iubilare' (to shout for joy), giving modern English its royal, celebratory noun.
Word relationships
- anniversary: 'Anniversary' happens every year; 'jubilee' specifically marks major milestones like 25, 50, or 60 years.
- centenary: 'Centenary' refers specifically to a 100th anniversary, while 'jubilee' covers several key multi-decade benchmarks.
Commonly confused with
- jubilation: 'Jubilation' is a feeling of triumphant joy; a 'jubilee' is an official celebratory event or milestone anniversary.
Word family
- jubilant (adjective): Feeling or expressing great joy and triumph.
Collocations
- Silver Jubilee
- Golden Jubilee
- Diamond Jubilee
- jubilee celebration
Example sentences
- "The nation celebrated the monarch's Platinum Jubilee with grand parades, concerts, and street parties." World News
- "The university marked its Golden Jubilee, commemorating fifty years of research excellence." Institutional History
Memory hook
JUBILEE = Joyful horn sounded for a big 50-year celebration. Grand celebration of a landmark anniversary.
When not to use
Do not use for routine annual birthdays or ordinary year-to-year anniversaries.
Fun facts
- In British royal terminology, 25 years is Silver, 50 is Golden, 60 is Diamond, and 70 is Platinum Jubilee.
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