periodic

¹

[peer-ee-od-ik]

adjective

1. recurring at intervals of time.

   periodic revivals of an interest in handicrafts.

2. occurring or appearing at regular intervals.

   periodic visits by doctors to the village.

3. repeated at irregular intervals; intermittent.

   periodic outbreaks of the disease.

4. Physics.,  recurring at equal intervals of time.

5. Mathematics.,  (of a function) having a graph that repeats after a fixed interval period of the independent variable.

6. Astronomy.

   1. characterized by a series of successive circuits or revolutions, as the motion of a planet or satellite.

   2. of or relating to a period, as of the revolution of a heavenly body.

7. pertaining to or characterized by rhetorical periods, or periodic sentences.

periodic

²

[pur-ahy-od-ik]

adjective

Chemistry.

1. of or derived from a periodic acid.

periodic

/ ˌpɪərɪˈɒdɪk, ˌpɪərɪəˈdɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. happening or recurring at intervals; intermittent

2. of, relating to, or resembling a period

3. having or occurring in repeated periods or cycles

Other Word Forms

• periodically adverb
• periodicity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of periodic¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin periodicus, from Greek periodikós; period, -ic

Origin of periodic²

First recorded in 1830–40; per- + iodic

Example Sentences

Until her illness stopped her from traveling, Johnson made periodic visits to Cambodia.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The SEC in 1970 mandated quarterly reporting of financial information, after decades of allowing “periodic” disclosure.

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That was the periodic rocket attacks during the decades of flare-ups between the militant group Hamas and Israel that would send residents racing into their safe rooms.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., decided over the weekend that it was time for one of those periodic displays of not standing for it.

Read more on Salon

The protection should be subject to periodic review rather than being open-ended, balancing security needs with fiscal responsibility.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annual 
• intermittent 
• monthly 
• occasional 
• recurrent 
• recurring 
• regular 
• repeated 
• routine 
• seasonal 
• sporadic 
• weekly 
• yearly