pe·ri·od·i·cal
ˌpir-ē-ˈä-di-kəl 
2
a
: published with a fixed interval between the issues or numbers
b
: published in, characteristic of, or connected with a periodical
: 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
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
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Periodical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodical. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
periodical
1 of 2 adjective
pe·ri·od·i·cal
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-i-kəl
1
2
: published at regular intervals
periodically
adverb
-k(ə-)lē
periodical
2 of 2 noun
: a periodical publication
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