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
The project, which is designed to include periodic nourishments every five to seven years for 50 years, got off to a rocky start when an original dredge location was delivering more rocks and pebbles than expected and a new borrow location had to be found.
—
Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 31 Oct. 2024
In addition to the energy expense of post-combustion technology, the chemical mixture used to capture CO2 picks up impurities and starts to lose effectiveness over time, and its periodic replacement is expensive.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Bleaching can be periodic, following events such as El Niño, which can create especially hot, dry weather.
—Betsy Andrews, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
It is hoped that once the technology is developed further it could be used to prevent infections in the weeks after surgery, via periodic applications of near-infrared light.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for periodic 
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Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 31 Oct. 2024
In addition to the energy expense of post-combustion technology, the chemical mixture used to capture CO2 picks up impurities and starts to lose effectiveness over time, and its periodic replacement is expensive.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Bleaching can be periodic, following events such as El Niño, which can create especially hot, dry weather.
—Betsy Andrews, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
It is hoped that once the technology is developed further it could be used to prevent infections in the weeks after surgery, via periodic applications of near-infrared light.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for periodic
Dictionary Entries Near periodic
Cite this Entry
“Periodic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodic. Accessed 17 Nov. 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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