periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈä-dik 
1
a
: occurring or recurring at regular intervals
b
: occurring repeatedly from time to time
2
a
: consisting of or containing a series of repeated stages, processes, or digits : cyclic
periodic decimals
a periodic vibration
b
: being a function any value of which recurs at regular intervals
3
: expressed in or characterized by periodic sentences
Synonyms
Examples of periodic in a Sentence
He takes the car in for periodic oil changes.
sent out periodic reminders about the office dress code
Recent Examples on the Web
Finally, Washington’s periodic framing of the world system as one divided between autocracies and democracies alienates many countries, including some democratic ones.
—
Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The duo draws an analogy between the companies building large foundation models and another industry that is highly capital intensive, where products are not highly differentiated, and that has also engaged in periodic price wars, destroying value for investors: airlines.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
On the other hand, periodic cicadas only emerge every 13 or 17 years depending on the species, and are smaller than annual ones.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Issues ran the gamut from insect bites to difficulties with transportation to the periodic dust storms that ground production to a halt.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
The regulations also require periodic free health examinations for miners and state that mine operators are in charge of monitoring silica exposure and preventing overexposure.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 16 Apr. 2024
Federal officials are also pushing for these limits in other sectors, among metal and nonmetal operators and aiming to establish medical surveillance programs for periodic health exams at no cost to miners.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Companies mining materials other than coal have expressed particular concern about the cost of a new program requiring them to provide free periodic medical exams to workers.
—Chris Hamby, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
That’s a roughly 8% increase from a year ago and the highest figure in the decade that the New York Fed has been tracking this question as part of its periodic Survey of Consumer Expectations.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The duo draws an analogy between the companies building large foundation models and another industry that is highly capital intensive, where products are not highly differentiated, and that has also engaged in periodic price wars, destroying value for investors: airlines.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
On the other hand, periodic cicadas only emerge every 13 or 17 years depending on the species, and are smaller than annual ones.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Issues ran the gamut from insect bites to difficulties with transportation to the periodic dust storms that ground production to a halt.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
The regulations also require periodic free health examinations for miners and state that mine operators are in charge of monitoring silica exposure and preventing overexposure.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 16 Apr. 2024
Federal officials are also pushing for these limits in other sectors, among metal and nonmetal operators and aiming to establish medical surveillance programs for periodic health exams at no cost to miners.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Companies mining materials other than coal have expressed particular concern about the cost of a new program requiring them to provide free periodic medical exams to workers.
—Chris Hamby, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
That’s a roughly 8% increase from a year ago and the highest figure in the decade that the New York Fed has been tracking this question as part of its periodic Survey of Consumer Expectations.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'periodic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near periodic
Cite this Entry
“Periodic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodic. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-ik
1
: occurring at regular intervals
2
: consisting of or containing a series of repeated stages
periodic vibrations
Medical Definition
periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-ik
: occurring or recurring at regular intervals
periodic epidemics
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