pe·ri·od·i·cal
ˌpir-ē-ˈä-di-kəl 
2
a
: published with a fixed interval between the issues or numbers
b
: published in, characteristic of, or connected with a periodical
: a periodical publication
Synonyms
Examples of periodical in a Sentence
Adjective
a periodical town newsletter that is supported by local advertisers
periodical announcements from airline personnel concerning the delay
Noun
She writes for a monthly periodical.
The library has a large collection of scholarly periodicals.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 5 Dec. 2024
The periodical 13-year and 17-year brood cicadas are the loudest, partially because of the sheer number of them that emerge at once.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
The previous definition only included traditional newspapers, periodicals and current magazines that were sold to the public.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for periodical 
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Adjective
The Whitney Review of New Writing, Whitney Mallett’s culture periodical, held a party at Frog Club.
—Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 5 Dec. 2024
The periodical 13-year and 17-year brood cicadas are the loudest, partially because of the sheer number of them that emerge at once.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024
Noun
As of January 1, 2025, a wide range of 1929 artworks have officially entered the public domain, including motion pictures, books, newspapers and periodicals, lectures and sermons, maps, musical compositions, works of fine art, and more.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
The previous definition only included traditional newspapers, periodicals and current magazines that were sold to the public.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for periodical
Dictionary Entries Near periodical
Cite this Entry
“Periodical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodical. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
periodical
1 of 2 adjective
pe·ri·od·i·cal
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-i-kəl
1
2
: published at regular intervals
periodically
adverb
-k(ə-)lē
periodical
2 of 2 noun
: a periodical publication
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