circulation
C1Formal / Neutral / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The movement of something, such as blood or air, around a closed system, or the distribution of something, such as money or information, among a group of people.
In publishing, the average number of copies of a newspaper or magazine sold over a given period. Can also refer to the state of being in general use or acceptance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word operates across concrete (blood, air) and abstract (ideas, currency) domains, unified by the concept of cyclical or continuous movement within a defined system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning differences. Minor variations in typical collocates; 'circulation figures' is more common in UK media contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Technical in medical/financial contexts, evaluative in media contexts (e.g., 'good/bad circulation').
Frequency
Comparatively high frequency in both, slightly elevated in US due to prominence of financial and fitness discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the circulation of N (e.g., the circulation of rumours)N is in/out of circulation (e.g., the coin is out of circulation)Verb + circulation (e.g., improve, restrict, enter circulation)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “out of circulation (not active/socialising)”
- “put/come into circulation”
- “the rumour mill is in circulation”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the turnover of capital or the number of units of a currency in active use.
Academic
Used in social sciences for the movement of ideas/capital, in life sciences for physiological processes.
Everyday
Commonly refers to blood flow or newspaper/magazine sales.
Technical
Specific meanings in cardiology (systemic/pulmonary circulation), library science, and finance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The document was circulated to all staff for comment.
- Old coins cease to circulate as legal tender.
American English
- The memo circulated around the office quickly.
- They worked to get the new currency circulating.
adverb
British English
- The news spread circulatively through the community. (rare)
American English
- Money circulatively moves through the economy. (rare)
adjective
British English
- The circulatory system is vital for health.
- He had circulatory problems in his legs.
American English
- Cardiologists study circulatory diseases.
- Good circulatory health is important.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Regular exercise improves your blood circulation.
- This coin is no longer in circulation.
- The newspaper has a daily circulation of over a million.
- Poor circulation can make your hands feel cold.
- The central bank controls the circulation of money to manage inflation.
- The idea gained wide circulation after the article was published.
- The monograph had limited circulation among a few specialised academics.
- Impaired pulmonary circulation can lead to serious respiratory complications.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CIRCLE: circulation involves things moving in a CIRCUIT or loop, like a circle of blood or a circle of readers.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/INFORMATION ARE LIQUIDS (circulating through a social body); ECONOMY/HEALTH IS A FLUID SYSTEM.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'циркуляция' (which is more technical/physics-based) in everyday contexts; for 'blood circulation', use 'кровообращение'. For 'in circulation' (money), 'в обращении' is correct.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'circulation' as a countable noun for blood flow (e.g., 'I have a good circulation' -> 'I have good circulation'). Confusing 'circulation' with 'rotation' (which implies turning around an axis).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'circulation' used most metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable (e.g., 'good circulation'). It becomes countable when referring to specific numbers, especially of publications (e.g., 'a circulation of 50,000').
'Circulation' implies movement along a path that typically returns to the starting point within a system (e.g., blood). 'Rotation' implies turning around a central point or axis (e.g., the Earth's rotation).
Yes, informally. 'He's back in circulation' means he is socially active again after an absence, often after a break-up or illness.
It means to remove something from active use or availability. It can refer to currency (old banknotes), library books, or even a person (as in the social sense).
Explore