seasonal
gb/sˈizənəl/ us/sˈizənəl/
B2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Happening at a certain season
Happening or changing at a certain time of year, usually every year in the same season.
Usage pattern:
seasonal [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "seasonal" with "seasoned". "Seasonal" is about the time of year, while "seasoned" can mean experienced (a seasoned worker) or flavored with spices (seasoned chicken).
Synonyms
periodic (Emphasizes something that happens at regular intervals, not only by seasons.)
|
cyclical (Stresses a repeating cycle; not limited to the seasons of the year.)
Antonyms
year-round (Describes something that continues in all seasons without stopping.)
|
constant (Suggests something that does not change over time or with the seasons.)
Collocations
seasonal changes
|seasonal patterns
|seasonal variation
|seasonal demand
|seasonal factors
|seasonal rainfall
Themes
nature
|weather
|business
|daily life
|time
Examples
- The tourism industry here is highly seasonal, with most visitors coming in the summer months.
- Our sales show strong seasonal patterns, peaking around the holidays.
- Farmers must plan for seasonal changes in temperature and rainfall.
- The park closes during winter because of seasonal weather conditions.
- Seasonal demand for ice cream rises sharply when the weather gets hot.
Learner examples
- This town is very quiet in winter because it is a seasonal tourist place.
- The company sees seasonal demand for its products at Christmas.
- There are big seasonal changes in temperature in this country.
- Seasonal rain helps the plants grow in the spring.
- Hotel prices are higher because tourism is seasonal here.
unknown
B2
property
2
Available only in one season
Only sold or used at a certain time of year, often because it is grown or made in that season.
Usage pattern:
seasonal [food/drink/product/item]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "season" instead of "seasonal" before a noun (e.g. *"season fruit" instead of "seasonal fruit"). Before a noun, use "seasonal" to describe availability tied to a time of year.
Synonyms
in-season (Common in food contexts; highlights that a product is at the best time for quality and availability.)
|
limited-time (Used in marketing; focuses on the short period of availability, not necessarily tied to a natural season.)
Antonyms
available year-round (Stresses that something can be bought or used in any season.)
|
out of season (Describes products, especially food, that are not in their normal growing or selling period.)
Collocations
seasonal fruit
|seasonal vegetables
|seasonal menu
|seasonal products
|seasonal specials
|seasonal ingredients
Themes
food
|business
|shopping
|daily_life
|food_drink
Examples
- The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients from local farms.
- Supermarkets are now advertising their seasonal Christmas products.
- I prefer to buy seasonal fruit because it tastes better and is cheaper.
- They launched a seasonal summer menu with lighter dishes.
- The store offers seasonal decorations for every major holiday.
Learner examples
- We ordered a salad made with seasonal vegetables.
- This café has a seasonal menu that changes four times a year.
- I like to buy seasonal fruit at the market.
- The shop sells seasonal gifts for Easter and Christmas.
- These cookies are a seasonal product for the winter holidays.
adjective
B2
property
3
Temporary and tied to one season
Working or used only for a short time in the year when there is more work, like summer or Christmas.
Usage pattern:
seasonal [job/worker/staff/business]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "seasonal job" with "part-time job". A seasonal job is linked to a time of year and may be full-time during that period, while a part-time job has fewer hours each week but can last all year.
Synonyms
temporary (General word for short-term; not always linked to a season or time of year.)
|
short-term (Emphasizes the limited duration rather than the connection to a particular season.)
Antonyms
permanent (Describes work or positions that continue without a planned end date.)
|
year-round (Stresses that something continues through all seasons and is not limited to a busy period.)
Collocations
seasonal job
|seasonal work
|seasonal worker
|seasonal staff
|seasonal employment
|seasonal business
Themes
work
|business
|economy
Examples
- She found a seasonal job at the ski resort for the winter.
- Retailers often hire seasonal workers before the holiday rush.
- The farm depends on seasonal labor during the harvest.
- Our café is a seasonal business that only opens from May to September.
- Many students look for seasonal work in the summer break.
Learner examples
- He has a seasonal job at the beach in summer.
- The store needs more seasonal workers at Christmas.
- I want to find seasonal work during my school holiday.
- The hotel hires seasonal staff for the tourist season.
- This restaurant is a seasonal business and closes in winter.
Grammar
Dictionary form
seasonal
IPA
GB/sˈizənəl/
US/sˈizənəl/
Syllables & stress
sea - son - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sea)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: seasonal
Word family
Core family
season
noun A2
seasonally
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unseasonal
adjective
unseasonally
adverb
Advanced or less common
seasonality
noun
seasonable
adjective
Expressions
seasonal affective disorder
1/sˈizənəl əfˈɛktɪv dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Depression that returns in one season
A medical problem where a person feels depressed at the same time every year, often in winter when there is less sunlight.
Examples
- Light therapy is often used to treat seasonal affective disorder.
- Some people with seasonal affective disorder feel tired and sad all winter.
- Her doctor diagnosed her with seasonal affective disorder after several winters of low mood.
seasonal allergies
1/sˈizənəl ˈælɚd͡ʒiz/
fixed phrase
Allergies that come in one season
Health problems like sneezing and itchy eyes that happen only at a certain time of year, for example when there is a lot of pollen in the air.
Examples
- Her seasonal allergies get really bad in the spring.
- Many people take medicine to control their seasonal allergies.
- I stay indoors during peak pollen days because of my seasonal allergies.
seasonal flu
1/sˈizənəl flˈu/
fixed phrase
Flu that comes every year in season
A kind of flu that comes almost every year at the same time, usually in the colder months.
Examples
- Doctors recommend getting a shot to protect against seasonal flu.
- Hospitals are preparing for an increase in seasonal flu cases.
- Seasonal flu can be dangerous for very young and very old people.
seasonal job
1/sˈizənəl d͡ʒˈɑb/
fixed phrase
Job that exists only in one season
A job that you can have only at a certain time of year, like summer or Christmas, when there is extra work.
Examples
- He took a seasonal job at the theme park during the summer holidays.
- Many shops advertise seasonal jobs before the Christmas rush.
- Students often look for a seasonal job to earn money over the long vacation.
seasonal menu
1/sˈizənəl mˈɛnju/
fixed phrase
Menu based on current season
A list of food in a restaurant that changes during the year and uses food that is fresh in that season.
Examples
- The restaurant offers a seasonal menu that highlights local produce.
- Our chef updates the seasonal menu four times a year.
- I love their seasonal menu because it always has something new to try.
seasonal sale
1/sˈizənəl sˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
Sale held at a time of year
A time when a shop sells many things more cheaply because of a season, like summer or after Christmas.
Examples
- I always wait for the end-of-seasonal sale to buy winter clothes.
- The mall is crowded because of the seasonal sales this weekend.
- Many online stores run big seasonal sales around Black Friday.
seasonal worker
1/sˈizənəl wˈɚkɚ/
fixed phrase
Person who works only in one season
A person who works only at a busy time of year, for example on a farm at harvest time or in a shop at Christmas.
Examples
- The farm relies on seasonal workers to pick fruit in the summer.
- Many seasonal workers come from abroad to help with the harvest.
- The company hired fifty seasonal workers to handle holiday orders.