ENGLISH
REFERENCE

periodic

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌpɪɹiˈɑdɪk// pe·ri·od·ic

adj. happening again and again at regular times. You use this to describe things that follow a steady schedule or pattern.

adj. occurring or appearing at regular intervals. Often describes cycles in nature, mathematics, or scheduled administrative tasks.


SIMPLE

The car needs periodic checks to stay safe.

CONTEXTUAL

The satellite sends periodic signals back to Earth every six hours to confirm its location.

COMPLEX

While the market experiences daily fluctuations, economists look for periodic trends that repeat over several years to predict long-term growth.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From French périodique, from Medieval Latin periodicus (“cyclical”), from Latin periodus (“complete sentence, period, circuit”), from Ancient Greek περίοδος (períodos, “cycle, period of time”). By surface analysis, period + -ic.

Etymology 2

From per- + iodic.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often used in technical contexts to describe rhythmic or cyclical behavior.

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