periodicity

/ˈpɛriəˌdɪsədi/

Other forms: periodicities

The characteristic of happening regularly is periodicity. In a given school day, you're sure to notice the periodicity of the bells ringing after class at predictable, regular intervals.

The adjective periodicity is almost always used in a scientific or technical context (in more casual conversation, you'd be more likely to say regularity or even rhythm). In nature, there are many examples of periodicity, from the daily sunrise and sunset to the phases of the moon and the recurrence of the seasons. Periodicity is closely related to periodic, from the Greek root periodos, "cycle."

Definitions of periodicity

1. noun

   the quality of recurring at regular intervals
   synonyms: cyclicity

   types:

   regular recurrence, rhythm

   recurring at regular intervals

   cardiac rhythm, heart rhythm

   the rhythm of a beating heart

   type of:

   regularity

   the quality of being characterized by a fixed principle or rate