jubilee

UK: /ˌdʒuːbɪˈliː/

US: /ˈdʒubəˌli, ˌdʒubəˈli/

US: ( jo̅o̅′bə lē′, jo̅o̅′bə lē′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ju•bi•lee /ˈdʒubəˌli, ˌdʒubəˈli/   n. [countable] , pl. -lees. 

1. the celebration of an anniversary, esp. a 50th anniversary.

adj. [often: after a noun]

2. Food flambé:
   cherries jubilee.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ju•bi•lee  ( jo̅o̅′bə lē′, jo̅o̅′bə lē′), n. 

1. the celebration of any of certain anniversaries, as the twenty-fifth (silver jubilee,) fiftieth (golden jubilee,) or sixtieth or seventy-fifth (diamond jubilee). 
2. the completion of 50 years of existence, activity, or the like, or its celebration:
   Our college will celebrate its jubilee next year.
3. any season or occasion of rejoicing or festivity.
4. rejoicing or jubilation.
5. Religion [Rom. Cath. Ch.]
   • an appointed year or other period, ordinarily every 25 years (ordinary jubilee,) in which a plenary indulgence is granted upon repentance and the performance of certain religious acts.
   • a period of time (extraordinary jubilee) declared by the pope as a time of rejoicing, as for an anniversary, when a plenary indulgence is granted upon repentance and the performance of certain religious acts.
   • Also called ju′bilee indul′gence. the plenary indulgence granted during such a period.
6. Judaism Also, Ju′bi•le′. [Chiefly Biblical.] a yearlong period to be observed by Jews once every 50 years, during which Jewish slaves were to be freed, alienated lands were to be restored to the original owner or an heir, the fields were to be left untilled, and all agricultural labors were to be suspended. Lev. 25. Cf. sabbatical year (def. 2).
7. Music and Dance a black American folk song concerned with future happiness or deliverance from tribulation.

adj. 

8. Food flambé (def. 1):
   cherries jubilee for dessert.

• Hebrew yōbhēl ram's horn, jubilee
• Late Greek iōbēlaîos (with ō and ē u and i by assimilation to Latin jūbilāre to shout for joy)
• jūbilaeus
• Late Latin
• Middle French jubile
• Middle English 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

jubilee / ˈdʒuːbɪˌliː ˌdʒuːbɪˈliː/ noun

1. a time or season for rejoicing
2. a special anniversary, esp a 25th or 50th one
3. a specially appointed period, now ordinarily every 25th year, in which special indulgences are granted
4. a year that was to be observed every 50th year, during which enslaved Hebrews were to be liberated, alienated property was to be restored, etc
5. a less common word for jubilation

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French jubile, from Late Latin jubilaeus, from Late Greek iōbēlaios, from Hebrew yōbhēl ram's horn, used for the proclamation of the year of jubilee; influenced by Latin jūbilāre to shout for joy