circular

[sur-kyuh-ler]

adjective

1. having the form of a circle; round.

   a circular tower.

2. of or relating to a circle.

   a circular plane.

3. moving in or forming a circle or a circuit.

   the circular rotation of the earth.

4. moving or occurring in a cycle or round.

   the circular succession of the seasons.

5. roundabout; indirect; circuitous.

   a circular route.

6. Logic.,  of or relating to reasoning in which the conclusion is ostensibly proved, but in actuality it or its equivalent has been assumed as a premise.

7. pertaining to a circle or set of persons.

8. (of a letter, memorandum, etc.) addressed to a number of persons or intended for general circulation.

noun

1. Also circ a letter, advertisement, notice, or statement for circulation among the general public.

   Synonyms: leaflet, flier, handbill

circular

/ ˈsɜːkjʊlə, ˌsɜːkjʊˈlærɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, involving, resembling, or shaped like a circle

2. circuitous

3. (of arguments) futile because the truth of the premises cannot be established independently of the conclusion

4. travelling or occurring in a cycle

5. (of letters, announcements, etc) intended for general distribution

noun

1. a printed or duplicated advertisement or notice for mass distribution

Other Word Forms

• circularity noun
• circularness noun
• circularly adverb
• noncircular adjective
• noncircularly adverb
• subcircular adjective
• subcircularly adverb
• uncircular adjective
• uncircularly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of circular¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin circulāris, equivalent to circul(us), circlus “a circular form or figure; a ring or circle” + -āris adjective suffix; circle, -ar ¹

Example Sentences

The property is very private, accessed via a gated private road up the hill that leads to a stately, paved, circular driveway.

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A circular migration agreement with the former had been in place since 2021, but similar accords with the Mauritanian and Gambian governments have since followed.

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The fascination is the harbor itself—circular, expansive and basically ruined by the time of the fourth century through a combination of earthquakes, tsunamis and rising seas.

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There are increasingly urgent concerns about massive capital spending, soaring valuations, high debt levels and the circular nature of AI firms pouring money into other AI firms.

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Posen that the circular deals rampant between AI companies may flatter their stock valuations, “but it still doesn’t make them levered.”

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