occasional
adjective
oc·ca·sion·al
ə-ˈkā-zh(ə-)nəl 
1
a
: of or relating to a particular occasion
a budget able to meet occasional demands as well as regular ones
b
: created for a particular occasion
occasional verse
occasional music
2
: acting as the occasion or contributing cause of something
occasional causes for creating apparent effects
3
: encountered, occurring, appearing, or taken at irregular or infrequent intervals
occasional visitors
an occasional vacation
found occasional errors
occasional episodes of chest pain
4
: acting in a specified capacity from time to time
an occasional lecturer
an occasional essayist
5
: designed or constructed to be used as the occasion demands
occasional furniture
Examples of occasional in a Sentence
She receives occasional phone calls from her mother.
There will be occasional showers during the morning.
Most mornings, we'll see deer or the occasional bear walking past our house.
He tells an occasional joke to keep his students interested.
I need to take occasional breaks from work.
Sure, I drink an occasional glass of wine from time to time.
She's an occasional lecturer at the university.
Recent Examples on the Web
The average American is typically pretty content with working a 9-5 job, making a decent salary, and taking the occasional vacation.
—
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
The former furniture store required eight months of renovations to become a powerhouse club dedicated to hosting drag shows, karaoke nights and occasional monthlong seasonal themes, like its ‘Hot Frosty’ during its December pop-up.
—Timia Cobb
breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Featuring a knee-high cutoff and a moderate, chunky heel, this classic boot includes thoughtful bonuses like grippy soles for extra traction and noise resistance, an elastic-stretch opening for easy removal, and a water-resistant faux leather exterior that only requires the occasional spot clean.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Jan. 2026
If your plant's potting medium becomes powder-dry due to indoor heat, an occasional extra helping of water might be called for.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for occasional
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Cite this Entry
“Occasional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occasional. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
occasional
adjective
oc·ca·sion·al
ə-ˈkāzh-nəl
-ən-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or created for a particular occasion
occasional verse
2
: happening, appearing, or met with now and then
an occasional visitor
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