periodical

1 of 2

adjective

pe·​ri·​od·​i·​cal ˌpir-ē-ˈä-di-kəl How to pronounce periodical (audio)
1
2
a
: published with a fixed interval between the issues or numbers
b
: published in, characteristic of, or connected with a periodical

periodical

2 of 2

noun

: a periodical publication

Examples of periodical in a Sentence

Adjective a periodical town newsletter that is supported by local advertisers periodical announcements from airline personnel concerning the delay Noun She writes for a monthly periodical. The library has a large collection of scholarly periodicals.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
All this turmoil represented a huge reversal in fortune for Diamond, which grew from modest beginnings to become the sole distributor for periodical comic books, and a major distributor of games, trade books and other collectibles, from the late 1990s. Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 South Carolina has annual cicadas, which appear every year as the name suggests, and starting soon, the periodical Brood XIX, which emerges every 13 years in huge numbers. Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Noun
Certain postage like marketing materials, periodicals and other packages may even be delivered faster, according to the USPS news release. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025 The society published a periodical called the Advocate of Moral Reform, as well as pamphlets addressed to upper-class audiences. Jenna Deep, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for periodical

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of periodical was in 1585

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Periodical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodical. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

periodical

1 of 2 adjective
pe·​ri·​od·​i·​cal ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-i-kəl How to pronounce periodical (audio)
1
2
: published at regular intervals
periodically
-k(ə-)lē
adverb

periodical

2 of 2 noun
: a periodical publication

More from Merriam-Webster on periodical

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