Origin: Latin suffix -al
Seasonal has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
a worker who finds employment only in certain seasons
"The farm hired several seasonal workers to help harvest the apples before winter arrived."
Anything that is seasonal, such as a financial trend, a product for sale, or an employee.
"The retail store hired several seasonal employees to help manage the rush of holiday shoppers before sending them home when spring arrived."
In plain English: A seasonal item is something that only exists or is available during a specific time of year.
"The seasonal was a brief but intense cold snap that arrived in late October."
occurring at or dependent on a particular season
"seasonal labor"
"a seasonal rise in unemployment"
Of, related to, or reliant on a season or period of the year, especially with regard to weather characteristics.
"The garden center stocked only seasonal flowers like tulips and daffodils that thrive in spring temperatures."
In plain English: Seasonal means something that only happens during a specific time of year, like summer heat or winter snow.
"Many tourists travel to the beach because the weather is seasonal."
Usage: Use seasonal to describe items like clothing or produce that are available only during specific times of the year due to climate patterns. This term distinguishes temporary availability from goods produced consistently throughout all months.
The word seasonal comes from combining the noun season with the suffix -al to mean something related to a specific time of year. It entered English as a straightforward formation that directly describes events or conditions tied to the changing seasons.