Commemoration vs. Anniversary

Commemorationnoun

The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration to honor the memory of some person or event.

Commemorationnoun

That which serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial.

Commemorationnoun

(UK) The specification of individual saints in the prayers for the dead; the great festival of the Oxford academic year, usually taking place on the third Wednesday after Trinity Sunday.

Commemorationnoun

The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration designed to honor the memory of some person or event.

Commemorationnoun

Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial.

Commemorationnoun

a ceremony to honor the memory of someone or something

Commemorationnoun

a recognition of meritorious service

Anniversarynoun

A day that is an exact number of years (to the day) since a given significant event occurred. Often preceded by an ordinal number indicating the number of years.

Anniversarynoun

(especially) Such a day that commemorates a wedding.

Anniversarynoun

A day subsequent in time to a given event by some significant period other than a year (especially as prefixed by the amount of time in question).

Anniversaryadjective

Returning with the year, at a stated time; annual; yearly; as, an anniversary feast.

Anniversarynoun

The annual return of the day on which any notable event took place, or is wont to be celebrated; as, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Anniversarynoun

The day on which Mass is said yearly for the soul of a deceased person; the commemoration of some sacred event, as the dedication of a church or the consecration of a pope.

Anniversarynoun

The celebration which takes place on an anniversary day.

Anniversarynoun

the date on which an event occurred in some previous year (or the celebration of it)

Anniversarynoun

the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year

Anniversarynoun

the date on which a couple were married in a previous year

Anniversarynoun

the date on which a romance began in a previous month or week.

Anniversary

An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year, and may also refer to the commemoration or celebration of that event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event.