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
Adjective
Wilson: School boards have to make sure they are provided with information on how students are doing with periodical reports throughout the year. Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024 What is the difference between periodical and annual cicadas? Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Noun
Become a voracious consumer of responsible and rigorous coverage of organizational life through books, periodicals, and podcasts. Nate Bennett, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 From 1936 until its shuttering in 1972, LIFE was a cultural force, a weekly periodical focused on photography that allowed the average American unprecedented access to news and culture. Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for periodical 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'periodical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near periodical

Cite this Entry

“Periodical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodical. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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