always used before a noun
1
: happening or done sometimes but not often : not happening or done in a regular or frequent way
She receives occasional phone calls from her mother.
There will be occasional showers during the morning.
She makes occasional appearances on television. = She appears on the occasional television show.
Most mornings, we'll see deer or the occasional bear walking past our house.
He tells an occasional joke to keep his students interested.
I need to take occasional breaks from work.
Sure, I drink an occasional glass of wine from time to time.
2
: sometimes doing a particular job or activity
She's an occasional lecturer at the university.
an occasional actor
occasional smokers [=people who smoke occasionally]
Cite this Entry
“Occasional.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/occasional. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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