What is the 250th-anniversary term used for the United States celebration known as America250?

The 250th-anniversary term used for the United States celebration known as America250 is semiquincentennial.

The word combines Latin-derived elements associated with half and five hundred, producing the meaning “half of a five-hundredth anniversary,” or 250 years. It is the formal term used for the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence, although “America250” is the shorter public-facing name.

The word is sometimes confused with bicentennial, which means a 200th anniversary. The United States celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, so the 2026 observance requires a different term. Other historical alternatives include sestercentennial and quarter millennium, but semiquincentennial is the official title used by the national commission.

America250 refers both to the nationwide commemoration and to the organization coordinating programs connected with the semiquincentennial. The central anniversary date is July 4, 2026.