periodic

¹

[ peer-ee-od-ik ]

adjective

1. recurring at intervals of time:

   periodic revivals of an interest in handicrafts.

2. occurring or appearing at regular intervals:

   periodic visits by doctors to the village.

3. repeated at irregular intervals; intermittent:

   periodic outbreaks of the disease.

4. Physics. recurring at equal intervals of time.
5. Mathematics. (of a function) having a graph that repeats after a fixed interval period of the independent variable.
6. Astronomy.
   1. characterized by a series of successive circuits or revolutions, as the motion of a planet or satellite.
   2. of or relating to a period, as of the revolution of a heavenly body.
7. pertaining to or characterized by rhetorical periods, or periodic sentences.

periodic

²

[ pur-ahy-od-ik ]

adjective

, Chemistry.

1. of or derived from a periodic acid.

periodic

/ ˌpɪərɪˈɒdɪk; ˌpɪərɪəˈdɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. happening or recurring at intervals; intermittent
2. of, relating to, or resembling a period
3. having or occurring in repeated periods or cycles

Derived Forms

• ˌperiˈodically, adverb
• periodicity, noun

Other Words From

• pe·ri·od·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of periodic¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin periodicus, from Greek periodikós; period, -ic

Origin of periodic²

First recorded in 1830–40; per- + iodic

Example Sentences

My daughter was born with a rare genetic disorder and attends weekly medical therapies as well as periodic visits with a half dozen specialists.

From Los Angeles Times

The blaze caused its greatest devastation on Wednesday, when the powerful winds prevented aircraft from dropping fire-retardent chemicals as firefighters struggled to combat the flames on rugged steep ground amid periodic shortages of water.

From Los Angeles Times

Which is why, this election week, I’m considering my counterprogramming options — with periodic check-ins on Kornacki, King, et al., to see where the count stands.

From Los Angeles Times

To make it easier to follow all of Trump’s ongoing legal entanglements, we’ll have periodic updates on the latest developments in Keeping Up With the Trump Trials.

From Slate

To make it easier to follow all of Trump’s ongoing legal entanglements, we’ll have periodic updates on the latest developments in Keeping Up With the Trump Trials.

From Slate

Related Words

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