periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈä-dik 
1
a
: occurring or recurring at regular intervals
b
: occurring repeatedly from time to time
2
a
: consisting of or containing a series of repeated stages, processes, or digits : cyclic
periodic decimals
a periodic vibration
b
: being a function any value of which recurs at regular intervals
3
: expressed in or characterized by periodic sentences
Examples of periodic in a Sentence
He takes the car in for periodic oil changes.
sent out periodic reminders about the office dress code
Recent Examples on the Web
Then came sriracha sauce, which first emerged in Thailand during the 1930s and is now so popular here that periodic shortages of the sauce cause panic buying.
—
Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The theme of a late night escape from the city is the periodic imprint’s entry into choice cuts here from artists including Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef and Gene Ammonsd.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025
That includes continuous improvement, regular tech upgrades, and periodic ‘fire drills’ that simulate future shocks.
—Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Ansky’s periodic X-ray bursts last 10 times longer and shine 10 times brighter than a typical QPE.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for periodic
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Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The theme of a late night escape from the city is the periodic imprint’s entry into choice cuts here from artists including Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef and Gene Ammonsd.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025
That includes continuous improvement, regular tech upgrades, and periodic ‘fire drills’ that simulate future shocks.
—Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Ansky’s periodic X-ray bursts last 10 times longer and shine 10 times brighter than a typical QPE.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for periodic
Cite this Entry
“Periodic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodic. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-ik
1
: occurring at regular intervals
2
: consisting of or containing a series of repeated stages
periodic vibrations
Medical Definition
periodic
adjective
pe·ri·od·ic
ˌpir-ē-ˈäd-ik
: occurring or recurring at regular intervals
periodic epidemics
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