If someone tells you that a meeting, payment, magazine, or invoice occurs twice a month, one could wonder when the next actually becomes due. Is the twice during going on that month or is it going to be going on every other month? Surprisingly, both interpretations were used in daily English.
This double meaning makes this apparently simple concept of planning so confusing. A similar sentence could describe two days per month paid for in one workplace. But it can also describe a magazine in publishing, publishing only six editions for an entire year.
The good news is that, looking at the context, it seems much easier to understand that term. This Guide explains what it means, why there are two accepted interpretations, how it differs from similar planning conditions, and how to prevent any misunderstandings in communicating data.
What Does Bimonthly Mean
The standard word bimonthly has two accepted meanings:
- Twice a month
- Once every two months
That means someone could technically describe both of these schedules as bimonthly:
A team meeting on the 5th and 20th of each month. A magazine published in January, March, May, July, September, and November. This is significant.
Something occurring may be conducted twice per month, around 24 times a year. Something occurring will only take place once every two months, once every six months.
Context is important when the word comes up.
For example:
“We publish a bimonthly newsletter with six editions each year.”
Obviously, that makes sense every two months.
Now consider:
“Employees receive payments bimonthly on the 1st and 15th.”
In this example, this is certainly twice a month.
Both uses may be understandable, but none should remain unexplained when the dates or payments in question are relevant.
Why Bimonthly Has Two Different Meanings
From the prefix bi, most of the confusion is derived.
English “bi” could be associated with something connected with two. However, it has drawn up two possible interpretations over time.
It may suggest:
Something happens twice over a period. Something happens once every two. That creates ambiguity, not just in months but also with other planning words.
For example, people sometimes hesitate over words such as:
- Biweekly
- Bimonthly
- Biannual
The problem isn’t that one person uses the word wrong. The problem is that two humans have different interpretations of the same word.
Imagine a manager saying:
“We’ll have bimonthly performance meetings.”
An employee might expect meetings twice a month. Another might expect meetings every second month.
The two workers may reach reasonable interpretations.
This ambiguity may create unnecessary problems for appointments, salary agreements, contracts, invoices, and deadlines. It is much safer to achieve this when timing is important, including actual data or frequency of occurrences.
Bimonthly vs Semimonthly vs Biweekly
Several scheduling terms sound similar but can represent noticeably different calendars.
Understanding the distinction is especially useful when dealing with payroll and recurring appointments.
| Term | Common Meaning | Approximate Frequency |
| Bimonthly | Twice a month or every two months | 24 or 6 times yearly |
| Semimonthly | Twice each month | 24 times yearly |
| Biweekly | Every two weeks | 26 times yearly |
| Monthly | Once each month | 12 times yearly |
| Quarterly | Once every three months | 4 times yearly |
Bimonthly vs Semimonthly
Semimonthly generally means twice per month.
- Semi-monthly means usually twice a month.
- A company might pay employees:
- On the 1st and 15th
Additional fixed dates per month are to be established on the 15th and the last business day of the month, which imposes 24 payment deadlines in a normal year.
Where someone wants to make bimonthly references, “semimonthly” or only “twice a month” can lead to greater clarity.
Bimonthly vs Biweekly
Biweekly schedules are different.
At once every, a biweekly event generally occurs for two weeks. Since a year holds an average of 52 weeks, something happens about 26 times a year, every two weeks.
This will ensure a significant distinction between salaries.
A worker paid twice monthly normally receives:
24 paychecks per year
A worker paid every two weeks normally receives:
26 paychecks per year
For many months, these two timetables may look nearly the same. However, employees on the biweekly schedule usually have two months with three paydays a year.
Bimonthly vs Every Two Months
If the intended meaning is an event every other month, it often happens with the simplest phrase:
- Every two months
- There’s not much space for interpretation.
For example, instead of writing:
- “Reports will be submitted bimonthly.”
A company could write:
- “Reports will be submitted every two months beginning in January.”
- This informs readers about the precise schedule to be expected.
How the Meaning Changes in Real World Situations
Context often tells you which interpretation makes more sense.
Here are some situations where the word commonly appears.
Payroll
People sometimes assume when using a payroll system that it would be two payments each month.
For example:
- January 1 and January 15
- February 1 and February 15
- March 1 and March 15
Companies often use the more precise term semimonthly payroll for this kind of schedule.
If you meet with a bimonthly employment contract, don’t trust the word itself entirely. Check the listed pay dates.
Magazines and Publications
Bimonthly publication frequently refers to a two-month publication.
A typical schedule could look like:
- January
- March
- May
- July
- September
- November
This poses six problems a year.
If a magazine advertises itself as a bimonthly publication, it can quickly confirm the intended meaning relating to the annual issue count.
Meetings
The term “meetings” may be particularly confusing.
Suppose a company announces:
“Management will hold bimonthly review meetings.”
That could theoretically mean:
- Two meetings each month
- One meeting every other month
A clearer version would say:
- “Management will hold review meetings twice each month.”
Or:
- “Management will hold review meetings every other month.”
- More than one word would avoid a week of schedule confusion.
Bills and Statements
Some utilities and service providers can bill once every two months.
If the billing cycle begins in January, customers might receive bills in:
January → March → May → July → September → November
Other companies can handle statements twice a month.
Given that payment deadlines and budget formulas may influence billing timing, customers should work from an actual billing cycle, rather than the terminology.
Subscriptions and Deliveries
There is also a potential for ambiguities in subscription services.
A delivery that is described only as a bimonthly service is not an instant way of informing customers whether to expect the supply to be made on a yearly basis by six or twenty-four.
Subscription companies can avoid confusion by displaying language such as:
- Delivered twice each month
- Delivered every other month
- Six deliveries per year
- Ships on the 1st and 15th
The schedule becomes instantly understandable.
How to Use Bimonthly Without Confusing Readers
It does not necessarily seem wrong to use the word, and the main problem is if your reader understands the schedule.
Where the timing has financial, contractual, or professional implications, clarity should always take precedence over fewer words.
Some better approaches are here.
Instead of:
- “Our team meets bimonthly.”
Write:
- “Our team meets twice each month.”
Or:
- “Our team meets every two months.”
Instead of:
- “You will receive bimonthly payments.”
Write:
- “You will receive payments on the 1st and 15th of each month.”
Instead of:
- “The newsletter is released bimonthly.”
Write:
- “The newsletter is released every two months, with six issues published each year.”
Additions to frequencies or dates practically eliminate all uncertainty.
This is particularly important when writing:
- Employment agreements
- Payment schedules
- Subscription terms
- Rental agreements
- Billing policies
- Business contracts
- Meeting invitations
- Editorial calendars
There may be enough context for a casual conversation, and the more secure choice is to be explicit for important documents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bimonthly: Does bimonthly mean every two months?
Yes. An accepted meaning is once every two months, which usually corresponds to six events a year.
Can bimonthly also mean twice a month?
Yes. The term is used to refer to what happens twice within each month. Because both meanings exist, in reality, the context is important.
What is the difference between semimonthly and bimonthly?
Half-monthly is usually twice a month. Bimonthly can mean either twice a month or once every two months, causing it to be less accurate.
How many times a year is bimonthly?
Depends on the intended meaning. Twice a month is about 24 times yearly, while once every two months is six times yearly.
Is bimonthly the correct spelling or bi monthly?
“Bimonthly” is a default dictionary spelling. People can search for “bi monthly,” or even write it, but in formal writing, the single word is usually preferable.
Conclusion
The main problem with two months is not that it lacks a definition; it is that there are two of them. Depending on the context, bimonthly, two-month periods can be interpreted as two times in one month. Though the surrounding information often reveals intended meaning, important schedules must never depend on speculation. The phrases “twice a month” and “every two months” are clearer and understandable for all when writing charges, meetings, bills, publications, or deadlines.
For more information, also read our related article here.