seasonal

[ see-zuh-nl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, dependent on, or accompanying the seasons of the year or some particular season; periodical:

   seasonal work.

noun

1. a seasonal product, employee, etc.:

   to hire seasonals.

seasonal

/ ˈsiːzənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring at a certain season or certain seasons of the year

   seasonal labour

Confusables Note

Seasonal and seasonable are sometimes interchanged, probably because of their obvious connection with season. In edited prose and in formal speech these two adjectives are almost always distinguished. Seasonal describes phenomena that occur with or depend upon a season or the seasons: seasonal fluctuations in rainfall; seasonal sales. Seasonable in reference to weather means “suitable to or characteristic of the season”: a seasonable December; seasonable temperatures for July. Seasonable also has the sense “timely, opportune”: a seasonable offer of financial assistance.

Derived Forms

• ˈseasonally, adverb
• ˈseasonalness, noun

Other Words From

• season·al·ly adverb
• season·al·ness noun
• multi·season·al adjective
• non·season·al adjective
• non·season·al·ly adverb
• pre·season·al adjective
• trans·season·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seasonal¹

First recorded in 1830–40; season + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Flowers are ubiquitous in Southern California and so easy to procure, from the buckets of seasonal blooms at your local supermarket to the gaudy $5 bouquets hawked at many freeway off-ramps.

From Los Angeles Times

Her resulting pumpkin blondies — flecked with dark chocolate chips and sea salt — are the perfect solution for holiday bakers who are low on time, but excited to capture seasonal flavors.

From Salon

It’s not uncommon for home prices to fluctuate month to month, or dip starting in the late summer and fall due to seasonal patterns.

From Los Angeles Times

Unity State, a major oil-producing state, has always experienced seasonal flooding.

From BBC

Purnell's in Birmingham, which became famous for contemporary seasonal food, shut in October.

From BBC

Related Words

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