decadal

[dek-uh-dl]

adjective

1. of or relating to a decade.

Other Word Forms

• decadally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of decadal¹

First recorded in 1745–55; decade + -al ¹

When To Use

What does decadal mean?

Decadal is used to describe something that involves or lasts for a decade or a period of 10 consecutive years, as in a decadal growth rate. Decadal is mostly used to describe something that lasted for 10 years, occurred over 10 years, or is concerned with a time period of 10 years. A decadal climate change survey, for example, is a survey that records 10 years of climate change data.The similar word decennial can describe something related to a decade, too, but it can also describe something that happens once every 10 years, such as the U.S. Census. Decadal is not used this way.Example: In order to have enough data, the scientists studied decadal periods of temperature change.