year on yearadv.adj.
/ˈjɪər ɒn ˈjɪə/, /ˈjəːr ɒn ˈjəː/, U.S. /ˈjɪ(ə)r ˌɔn ˈjɪ(ə)r/, /ˈjɪ(ə)r ˌɑn ˈjɪ(ə)r/ A. adv.
1. Repeatedly over a number of years; for years without change. Cf. year over year adv. 1.
Π
1838 Torch (London) 14 July 172/3 Year on year, the callous Scotchman, Wily—heartless—bold—and bad, Kept professing kind intentions.
1870 Lady's Friend Feb. 109/1 Those wild, bright ways would accord with those of two middle-aged people whose lives had run together year on year in the same set groove.
1936 Prairie Schooner 10 199 It is the thorn apple putting out its guarded blossoms year on year that says, ‘No year is last.’
1963 Redlands (Calif.) Daily Facts 14 Nov. 16/7 We have gone on year on year swallowing Latin insults and Latin ineptitude.
2010 D. Souhami E. Cavell iv. 24 She ruled at Laurel Court in an unvarying manner and with the same curriculum year on year.
2.
a. With reference to trends, gradual increases or decreases, etc.: with or in each passing or successive year. Cf. year over year adv. 2a.
Π
1838 Torch (London) 14 July 172/3 Year on year, with the imprisoned, Hope and Patience fainter grew.
1908 W. H. Sexton Truth & Near Truth 17 Colder and colder, year on year, Rain and snow and ice are creeping Ever southward.
1969 Port Arthur (Texas) News 12 Apr. 4/1 Their valiant duty there [sc. in Vietnam] has mounted year on year, so also the toll of wounds and death.
1985 Times 20 Dec. 11/2 Year on year Britain is becoming better housed: people have more space.., better heating.
2011 M. Unwin Atlas of Birds vii. 118 The number of people who belong to bird conservation societies is increasing year on year.
b. Chiefly Economics and Finance. With reference to figures, financial data, etc.: as compared with the corresponding information from the previous year. Cf. year over year adv. 2b.
ΚΠ
1976 Guardian 5 Apr. 12/6 World import volume in 1976 will be 11 per cent up, year on year, over 1975.
1987 New Scientist 12 Feb. 18/1 Year on year, the number of posts on offer increased by 48 per cent between 1985 and 1986.
1991 Observer (Nexis) 3 Mar. 32 Television revenues for January were down 17 per cent year on year.
2007 Marketing 21 Feb. 23 The sector as a whole was down almost a quarter year on year.
B. adj.
Chiefly Economics and Finance. Relating to or shown by a comparison of corresponding figures from two consecutive years. Cf. year over year adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > management of national resources > [adjective] > figures or comparison of figures
year over year1931
notional1958
year on year1958
1958 Canad. Jrnl. Econ. & Polit. Sci. 24 477 In Figure 3 we present a money supply series including government deposits, but drawn..as a year-on-year graph.
1976 Daily Tel. 20 July 1/5 It is hoped this will show a year on year rise in average earnings of between 14 and 15 per cent.
1982 Listener 16 Dec. 27/3 Over a ten-week period from September to November, the year-on-year decline recorded is equivalent to 12 per cent of individuals, or 7 per cent of households.
1991 TSB Ann. Rev. 4 The improvement in the year-on-year profits of £19m is largely due to higher volumes of business.
2008 Independent on Sunday 22 June (Business & Money section) 3/6 The high street group John Lewis reported on Friday a 9.7 per cent year-on-year fall in electrical and home technology sales in the past week.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adv.adj.1838