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

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Its production is often described as “cyclical,” meaning the more you harvest, the more the plant will produce.

From Salon

For the oil and gas sector, a further sign of its decline - both long-term and cyclical - is in 250 onshore Aberdeen jobs being axed by Harbour Energy, now one of the biggest operators.

From BBC

PMDD, which is a severe cyclical, hormone-based mood disorder linked to periods, is thought to affect more than one in 20 women.

From BBC

Related Words

• periodic 
• repetitive 
• seasonal