circular

[ sur-kyuh-ler ]

adjective

1. having the form of a circle; round:

   a circular tower.

2. of or relating to a circle:

   a circular plane.

3. moving in or forming a circle or a circuit:

   the circular rotation of the earth.

4. moving or occurring in a cycle or round:

   the circular succession of the seasons.

5. roundabout; indirect; circuitous:

   a circular route.

6. Logic. of or relating to reasoning in which the conclusion is ostensibly proved, but in actuality it or its equivalent has been assumed as a premise.
7. pertaining to a circle or set of persons.
8. (of a letter, memorandum, etc.) addressed to a number of persons or intended for general circulation.

noun

1. Also circ []. a letter, advertisement, notice, or statement for circulation among the general public.

   Synonyms: leaflet, flier, handbill

circular

/ ˌsɜːkjʊˈlærɪtɪ; ˈsɜːkjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, involving, resembling, or shaped like a circle
2. circuitous
3. (of arguments) futile because the truth of the premises cannot be established independently of the conclusion
4. travelling or occurring in a cycle
5. (of letters, announcements, etc) intended for general distribution

noun

1. a printed or duplicated advertisement or notice for mass distribution

Derived Forms

• circularity, noun
• ˈcircularly, adverb

Other Words From

• cir·cu·lar·i·ty [sur-ky, uh, -, lar, -i-tee], cir·cu·lar·ness noun
• cir·cu·lar·ly adverb
• non·cir·cu·lar adjective
• non·cir·cu·lar·ly adverb
• sub·cir·cu·lar adjective
• sub·cir·cu·lar·ly adverb
• un·cir·cu·lar adjective
• un·cir·cu·lar·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of circular¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin circulāris, equivalent to circul(us), circlus “a circular form or figure; a ring or circle” + -āris adjective suffix; circle, -ar ¹

Example Sentences

In the future, as the world moves to renewable natural gas production from waste, he envisions the potential of a potentially circular hydrogen economy.

From TechCrunch

The circular follows a 2017 warning issued by the bank against the use of cryptocurrencies.

From Quartz

On some surfaces, like a circular disk or a sphere, any loop can shrink down to a single point.

From Quanta Magazine

The city drew up a “circular strategy” combining the doughnut’s goals with the principles of a “circular economy,” which reduces, reuses and recycles materials across consumer goods, building materials and food.

From Time

She was guaranteed to hit the circular target, which had no subdivisions — it was just one big circle.

From FiveThirtyEight

Steve Garth, who works in Circular Quay, was inside the Cartier jewelry store near the café when the siege began.

From The Daily Beast

In the background, you can see two movers rolling out a large, circular blue ISIS sign.

From The Daily Beast

We start to argue some points but they are overly defensive and their answers are circular.

From The Daily Beast

The dugout was covered with semi-circular sheets of corrugated iron, forming a vaulted roof.

From The Daily Beast

He uses a spatula to flatten the onions and the meat together, creating a broad circular patty with an uneven edge.

From The Daily Beast

The road descended on the other side, and we followed it till we came unexpectedly upon a little circular park.

From Project Gutenberg

Her eye fastened on a circular portion of the wall-paper pattern, and she felt that the whole room was revolving about her.

From Project Gutenberg

You see, all the swells sat in their boxes and gazed right down on the dancers, who had a circular place roped off for them.

From Project Gutenberg

In the nine differently colored circular tracks, rolled little globes representing the planets.

From Project Gutenberg

The sound holes may have been traced down and even the upper and lower circular holes bored.

From Project Gutenberg