autumnal

adjective

au·​tum·​nal ȯ-ˈtəm-nəl 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of autumn

autumnal weather

autumnal colors

the autumnal equinox

I am often surprised to see rising amid these trees the rounded tops of apple-trees glowing with red or yellow fruit, in harmony with the autumnal tints of the forest.

—Henry David Thoreau

autumnally

ȯ-ˈtəm-nə-lē 

adverb

These days on the verge of winter were autumnally fair, struck through with warmth until the swift lengthening of the shadows.

—John Updike

Examples of autumnal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By the time the autumnal equinox, the first day of fall, rolls around on Sept. 22, those in the Northern Hemisphere will have lost two hours and 43 minutes and 43 seconds of sunlight, according to Time and Date. —Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025

In actuality, however, summer's midpoint — that moment that comes exactly between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox in 2024 — will not occur until Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. EDT. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 June 2025

Wedding planner Megan Hiltbrand of MLH Events helped bring Burrell’s vision to life, which included autumnal tablescapes decorated with vegetables, herbs, and colorful leaves. —Jacqueline Weiss, People.com, 17 June 2025

In between the summer and winter solstices are the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, which mark the start of spring and fall. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin autumnālis, from autumnus autumn + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above