Periodical: Definition, Usage & Key Differences

Meaning 1：magazine or journal (periodical)

periodical 🔊

/ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪk(ə)l/

A magazine, newspaper, or other publication that comes out at regular times, like every week or month.

Periodical definition illustrated: person reading a monthly magazine in a cozy home setting.

magazine or journal 🔊

➕

mæɡəˈziːn ɔːr ˈdʒɜːrnəl

A type of publication, such as a magazine or a scholarly journal, that is issued at fixed intervals (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly). It contains articles, stories, or research on various topics.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from 'period' (from Greek 'periodos' meaning 'a going around, cycle, recurrence') + the suffix '-ical', which forms adjectives meaning 'of or pertaining to'. Literally, 'related to a recurring cycle'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a PERIOD of time, like a week or a month. A PERIODical is something that arrives regularly in those time PERIODs—like your favorite magazine.

📖 Example

The latest issue of the science periodical just arrived at the library, and I can't wait to read about the new space discovery. 🔊 The newest release of the scientific magazine has just been delivered to the library, and I am very eager to read the article on the recent discovery in space.

🔗 Collocations

subscribe to a periodical – to arrange to receive a magazine or journal regularly by paying in advance

academic periodical – a scholarly journal publishing research in a specific field

latest issue of a periodical – the most recently published edition of a magazine or journal

🔄 Synonyms

journal (n.) – A periodical, especially one dealing with a particular subject (like a scientific journal). It often implies a more serious or scholarly focus.

magazine (n.) – A periodical publication containing articles, photographs, and advertisements, typically on a variety of subjects and aimed at a general audience.

serial (n.) – A publication issued in successive parts, usually at regular intervals (e.g., magazines, journals, newspapers). It's a broader term.

🚫 Antonyms

book (n.) – A written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers; a complete, non-serial publication.

one-off (n.) – Something that happens or is made only once, not as part of a series.

🌱 Derivatives

periodically (adv.) – At regular intervals; from time to time.

periodicity (n.) – The quality or character of being periodic; the tendency to recur at intervals.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'periodical' directly evolved from the Latin 'periodicus', which itself came from the Greek 'periodikos', meaning 'recurring at regular intervals'. This reflects the core concept of publications issued in cycles, such as daily, weekly, or monthly. Historically, the rise of the periodical in the 17th and 18th centuries, with publications like 'The Tatler' and 'The Spectator', was crucial for spreading ideas during the Enlightenment and shaping modern public discourse.