seasonal

[ see-zuh-nl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, dependent on, or accompanying the seasons of the year or some particular season; periodical:

   seasonal work.

noun

1. a seasonal product, employee, etc.:

   to hire seasonals.

seasonal

/ ˈsiːzənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring at a certain season or certain seasons of the year

   seasonal labour

Confusables Note

Seasonal and seasonable are sometimes interchanged, probably because of their obvious connection with season. In edited prose and in formal speech these two adjectives are almost always distinguished. Seasonal describes phenomena that occur with or depend upon a season or the seasons: seasonal fluctuations in rainfall; seasonal sales. Seasonable in reference to weather means “suitable to or characteristic of the season”: a seasonable December; seasonable temperatures for July. Seasonable also has the sense “timely, opportune”: a seasonable offer of financial assistance.

Derived Forms

• ˈseasonalness, noun
• ˈseasonally, adverb

Other Words From

• season·al·ly adverb
• season·al·ness noun
• multi·season·al adjective
• non·season·al adjective
• non·season·al·ly adverb
• pre·season·al adjective
• trans·season·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seasonal¹

First recorded in 1830–40; season + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Hershey is scaling back its production of seasonal treats—think items like Reese’s Pumpkins—in favor of traditional products and packaging, which are easier to sell off if inventory is left over.

From Fortune

A few times a year, forecasters draw up seasonal predictions, which rely on very different types of information than the current weather conditions that feed short-term forecasts.

From Science News

Almost all of those gains were in education, and that’s where we may run into problems with the way the BLS’s seasonal adjustments — which follow the ebb and flow of employment under normal circumstances — account for monthly changes.

From FiveThirtyEight

This is particularly useful if you sell a variety of seasonal products online.

From Search Engine Land

The World Health Organization coordinates a Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, which gathers data from member countries to monitor seasonal and pandemic flu.

From Science News

Florida, with its large seasonal migrations of northeasterners, is also now a wine-wise state.

From The Daily Beast

For additional information on seasonal depression, head to the National Institute of Mental Health.

From The Daily Beast

Studies show seasonal affective disorder is four times more common in women than men.

From The Daily Beast

After all, you prepare your home, car, garden and other things for the seasonal change, so why not your body?

From The Daily Beast

Construction would require around 10,400 seasonal workers for stretches that would last either four or eight months.

From The Daily Beast

It was a device that accomplished, two thousand years ago, the function of our proud Bureau of Seasonal Gratuities.

From Project Gutenberg

Sun worship was of great antiquity in Babylonia, but appears to have been seasonal in its earliest phases.

From Project Gutenberg

The results were as follows:—The seasonal and monthly means in the tree and in the air were not sensibly different.

From Project Gutenberg

A very potent safeguard against the seasonal fever is arrack, being country spirit of a golden tint and undisciplined taste.

From Project Gutenberg

As in India, that condition heralded change in weather, its seasonal recurrence so regular that it is reckoned on to a day.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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