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PlainSpell

circular

cir·cu·lar/ˈsɜɹ.kjə.ləɹ/adjective, noun, verb

circular is spelled C-I-R-C-U-L-A-R: 8 letters and 3 syllables (cir·cu·lar). It appears 9.1 times per million words in written English, the 7,553rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, circular means “Of or relating to a circle” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).

How many letters and syllables are in circular?

Letters8: C-I-R-C-U-L-A-R
Syllables3: cir·cu·lar
In writing9.1 times per million words; the 7,553rd most frequent word form
Wrong spellings searchednone measured in search
Rhymes with

Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.

How common is circular?

Circular appears 9.1 times per million words in written English, the 7,553rd most frequent word form in the list.

Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).

How do you pronounce circular?

  • UK /ˈsɜː.kjə.lə/
  • US /ˈsɜɹ.kjə.ləɹ/
  • /ˈsɪɾ.kjə.ləɾ/

Circular has 3 syllables, split cir·cu·lar in writing.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-circular.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).

What rhymes with circular?

One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as circular from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹkjələɹ/):

Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).

Forms of circular

  • more circular comparative
  • most circular superlative
  • circulars plural, present, singular, he/she/it
  • circularing participle, present
  • circulared participle, past

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What does circular mean?

The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).

adjective

  1. 1

    Of or relating to a circle.

  2. 2

    In the shape of, or moving in, a circle.

    Near-synonyms: oval; round; toroid, ringlike, round-like

  3. 3

    Circuitous or roundabout.

  4. 4

    Referring back to itself, so as to prevent computation or comprehension; infinitely recursive.

    circular reasoning

  5. 5

    Distributed to a large number of persons.

  6. 6

    obsoletePerfect; complete.

  7. 7

    archaicAdhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior.

    February 1, 1711, John Dennis, on the Genius and Writings of Shakespeare Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?

noun

  1. 1

    An advertisement, directive or notice intended for mass circulation.

    Near-synonym: flyer (advertisement)

  2. 2

    Ellipsis of circular letter.

  3. 3

    Ellipsis of circular file.

  4. 4

    datedA sleeveless cloak cut from a circular pattern.

  5. 5

    A shuttle bus with a circular route.

verb

  1. 1

    To distribute circulars to or at.

  2. 2

    To extend in a circular direction.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

Circular in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

LanguageWords
Frenchcirculaire (of or relating to a circle), rond (in the shape of, or moving in a circle)
GermanKreis- (of or relating to a circle), rund, kreisartig, kreisförmig, kreisend (in the shape of, or moving in a circle)
Portuguesecircular (of or relating to a circle), redondo, arredondado (in the shape of, or moving in a circle)
Spanishcircular (of or relating to a circle)

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.

Where does circular come from?

From Middle English circuler, circuleer, circulere, from Old French circulier (French circulaire), from Late Latin circularis, from Latin circulus, diminutive of circus (“ring”). By surface analysis, circle + -ar.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What to look up after circular