cyclical

[sahy-kli-kuhl, sik-li-]

adjective

1. cyclic.

2. of or denoting a business or stock whose income, value, or earnings fluctuate widely according to variations in the economy or the cycle of the seasons.

   Selling Christmas decorations is a cyclical business.

noun

1. Usually cyclicals. stocks of cyclical companies.

Other Word Forms

• cyclically adverb
• cyclicality noun
• noncyclical adjective
• noncyclically adverb
• procyclical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyclical¹

First recorded in 1810–20; cyclic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Small caps, cyclical stocks and even some defensive names are catching a bid, suggesting that the bull run may have deeper roots than previously believed.

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The one caveat is that these names are all typically “cyclical.”

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Occidental’s profits and those of its peers are now under pressure due to lower oil prices, helping to illustrate the risk of debt-financed deals in a cyclical business.

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Tapping into the craft revival of yesteryear speaks to a cyclical impulse for structure amid the chaos of now.

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The city’s relationship with its immigrant communities has been marked by cyclical patterns of displacement despite surface-level celebrations of diversity.

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Related Words

• periodic 
• repetitive 
• seasonal