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periodization

American  
[peer-ee-uh-duh-zey-shuhn] / ˌpɪər i ə dəˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. an act or instance of dividing a subject into historical eras for purposes of analysis and study.


periodization British  
/ ˌpɪərɪədaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act or process of dividing history into periods

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of periodization

First recorded in 1935–40; period + -ization

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The exercisers’ six-times-a-week routine centered on what the researchers dubbed “undulating periodization,” meaning that on some days they did high-intensity intervals of varying length and on others they lifted weights and did some aerobic training.

From Washington Post

That kind of periodization is as convenient as it is reductive, although I assume that it works for Spielberg.

From New York Times

But the handy periodization used by both Wall Street and journalism — focusing on the first half of the year — obscured a major shift in the stock market.

From New York Times

Thorrington recalled kidding Bale about the U.S.-Wales showdown by telling him, “You’re going to be peaking after. We’ll set up your periodization so that you’re not quite ready for that game.”

From Los Angeles Times

"We are talking here about a 12-year process to break into the senior squad and realise his dream of playing for his boyhood club," explained Mara, who is also an executive director at the School of Tactical Periodization.

From BBC