Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

periodic

/ˌpɪɹiˈɒdɪk/ adjective

Latin root: periodicus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about periodic at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

adjective

Relating to the highest oxidation state of iodine; of or derived from a periodic acid.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word