periodical

1 of 2

adjective

pe·​ri·​od·​i·​cal ˌpir-ē-ˈä-di-kəl 

1

: periodic table sense 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

Synonyms

Adjective

• episodic
• episodical
• serial
• serialized

Noun

• book
• bulletin
• diurnal
• gazette
• journal
• mag
• magazine
• newspaper
• organ
• paper
• rag
• review
• serial
• zine

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

Future presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower and titans of industry like Walt Disney also started earning money by tossing periodicals as kids. —Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024

Hard-to-cancel services and subscriptions have been a growing consumer issue for things like traditional print periodicals, gym memberships and fintech apps. —Megan Poinski, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1798, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing periodical

• periodical cicada

Kids Definition

periodical

1 of 2 adjective

pe·​ri·​od·​i·​cal ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-i-kəl 

1

: periodic sense 1

2

: published at regular intervals

periodically

-k(ə-)lē

adverb

periodical

2 of 2 noun

: a periodical publication