autumnal

adjective

au·​tum·​nal ȯ-ˈtəm-nəl 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of autumn

autumnal weather

autumnal colors

the autumnal equinox

I am often surprised to see rising amid these trees the rounded tops of apple-trees glowing with red or yellow fruit, in harmony with the autumnal tints of the forest.

—Henry David Thoreau

autumnally

ȯ-ˈtəm-nə-lē 

adverb

These days on the verge of winter were autumnally fair, struck through with warmth until the swift lengthening of the shadows.

—John Updike

Examples of autumnal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In March, the Northern Hemisphere observers will begin to see longer, warmer days from the vernal, or spring, equinox through the summer solstice, but Southern Hemisphere observers will experience shorter days and longer nights from their autumnal, or fall, equinox, NASA adds. —Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2026

In November, the autumnal equinox marks the first official day of fall. —Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026

The Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun on Friday, one of only two days of the year (the other being September's autumnal equinox). —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026

Despite this summer-like weather in mid-March, the orange-red trees on the Oscars carpet make the space look autumnal. —Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin autumnālis, from autumnus autumn + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above