period
Very High (C2)Neutral; formal in historical/scientific contexts; informal/personal in menstrual context.
Definition
Meaning
A length or portion of time.
Can refer to a punctuation mark (full stop), a recurring cycle (e.g., menstrual period), or a distinct historical or geological era.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous. Context is crucial. The punctuation sense is primary in writing; the time sense is primary in speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'full stop' is the dominant term for the punctuation mark. 'Period' for punctuation is primarily American. In the US, 'period' is used for both punctuation and emphatic finality (e.g., 'I'm not going, period.'). The menstrual sense is common in both, though often euphemistic.
Connotations
In AmE, 'period' as a punctuation term is neutral. The emphatic 'period' conveys absoluteness. In BrE, using 'period' for punctuation can sound American. The menstrual sense can carry social/cultural stigmas.
Frequency
Much more frequent in AmE due to the punctuation sense. The time sense is equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[ADJ] periodperiod of [NOUN/VERB-ING]for/in/over/during a periodthe [NOUN] periodVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Put a period to it.”
- “Period piece (art/film).”
- “...full stop/period. (emphatic finality)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The reporting period ends on Friday. The warranty has a 12-month period.
Academic
The Cretaceous period ended approximately 66 million years ago. Data was collected over a longitudinal period.
Everyday
She'll be away for a short period. I need to stop for a period of reflection.
Technical
The satellite's orbital period is 90 minutes. The oscillator has a fixed period.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The Jurassic period lasted millions of years.
- There will be a sunny period this afternoon.
- She was late due to her period.
American English
- Add a period at the end of the sentence.
- We experienced a growth period last quarter.
- I'm not arguing, period!
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The lesson is for a long period.
- My holiday period is in July.
- There was a quiet period after the initial excitement.
- The company offers a 30-day trial period.
- The artist's blue period is his most famous.
- Payment must be received within the specified period.
- The treaty ushered in a period of detente between the nations.
- This statute falls outside the period under review by the commission.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PERIOD at the end of a sentence: it marks a STOP in writing, just as a time period is a STOP/segment on the timeline.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'within that period'); TIME IS A RESOURCE ('use your period wisely'); FINALITY IS AN END MARK ('period!').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'point' (точка) in geometry or computing. 'Period' as time is closer to 'промежуток времени', 'период'. The punctuation mark is 'точка'. The emphatic 'period!' can be translated as 'и точка!' or 'всё!'.
- Avoid direct translation for 'period pain' -> 'менструальная боль' (not 'период боль').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'period of time' redundantly (just 'period' often suffices).
- Using 'period' for a specific point in time (e.g., 'at that period' is wrong; use 'at that time' or 'during that period').
- Confusing 'period' (duration) with 'moment' (point).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'period' used to indicate emphatic finality?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. Its formality depends on context: 'geological period' is scientific, 'period pain' is informal/personal.
It is understood but marked as American. In formal UK writing, 'full stop' is preferred for the punctuation mark.
An 'era' is a very long, distinct period of history, often marked by a defining feature (e.g., digital era). A 'period' can be any length and is a more general term.
Because a 'period' inherently refers to a duration of time. However, the phrase is commonly used for emphasis or clarity (e.g., 'a short period of time').