periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈä-dik 
1
a
: occurring or recurring at regular intervals
b
: occurring repeatedly from time to time
2
a
: consisting of or containing a series of repeated stages, processes, or digits : cyclic
periodic decimals
a periodic vibration
b
: being a function any value of which recurs at regular intervals
3
: expressed in or characterized by periodic sentences
Examples of periodic in a Sentence
He takes the car in for periodic oil changes.
sent out periodic reminders about the office dress code
Recent Examples on the Web
Gully recommends more collaboration with studio marketing teams, periodic calls for Cinema United members about the latest upcoming titles rather than only the once-a-year CinemaCon showcase, or a playbook of ideas for how individual theaters can succeed rather than going into a weekend blind.
—
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 11 Apr. 2026
Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Lebanon’s fragile sovereignty The lack of resolved borders and Israel’s periodic incursions into southern Lebanon have predictably meant that Lebanon has struggled to assert sovereignty over its own territory.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
Some former agenda mainstays — such as periodic updates on the group’s long-standing lighting and monument sign projects, information on how to coexist with wildlife and reports about Bird Rock committees — have been notably absent in recent months.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for periodic
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Brian Welk, IndieWire, 11 Apr. 2026
Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Lebanon’s fragile sovereignty The lack of resolved borders and Israel’s periodic incursions into southern Lebanon have predictably meant that Lebanon has struggled to assert sovereignty over its own territory.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
Some former agenda mainstays — such as periodic updates on the group’s long-standing lighting and monument sign projects, information on how to coexist with wildlife and reports about Bird Rock committees — have been notably absent in recent months.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for periodic
Cite this Entry
“Periodic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-ik
1
: occurring at regular intervals
2
: consisting of or containing a series of repeated stages
periodic vibrations
Medical Definition
periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-ik
: occurring or recurring at regular intervals
periodic epidemics
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