cyclical

[ sahy-kli-kuhl, sik-li- ]

adjective

1. cyclic.
2. of or denoting a business or stock whose income, value, or earnings fluctuate widely according to variations in the economy or the cycle of the seasons:

   Selling Christmas decorations is a cyclical business.

noun

1. Usually cyclicals. stocks of cyclical companies.

Other Words From

• cycli·cal·ly adverb
• cycli·cali·ty noun
• non·cycli·cal adjective
• non·cycli·cal·ly adverb
• pro·cycli·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyclical¹

First recorded in 1810–20; cyclic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The shifts in my internal landscape, mirrored in the cyclical qualities of the natural world, bring solace.

From Los Angeles Times

This cyclical siphoning becomes a ritual for Agatha, as illustrated by a truly incredible sequence that lets Hahn don through-the-decades drag as she proves that her savagery is timeless.

From Salon

“It’s all cyclical. It feels like giving birth to a baby that’s never gonna be yours again,” De Miguel said.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a cyclical thing, and the cycle has come back around to a tired narrative.

From Los Angeles Times

The ancients practiced these rites to experience the cyclical nature of life.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• periodic
• repetitive
• seasonal