What does quarterly mean?
“Quarterly” describes something that happens or is issued four times a year, usually at three-month intervals. It is especially common in business and financial contexts, where companies release quarterly reports, earnings, updates, and forecasts. A quarterly publication is one that appears once every three months, while “reviewed quarterly” means that the review takes place every three months. The word can also function as an adverb: “rent is payable quarterly” means that payment is due every three months. Although “quarter” is a familiar part of the word, “quarterly” is not restricted to the four calendar quarters of a year; it can refer to any regular three-month period. Its use conveys regularity and an organized schedule, making it a useful term for describing recurring financial, administrative, or publishing activities.
Happening, occurring, or published four times a year or at three-month intervals.
"The company announced a quarterly dividend."
Common in finance, business, publishing, and administrative contexts.
A publication, report, or other item issued four times a year, such as a financial report or magazine.
"The latest quarterly provides details about the firm's performance."
Usually used for a business report, financial publication, or periodical.
Every three months, or four times a year.
"Members renew their subscriptions quarterly."
The phrase “quarterly” can replace an equivalent expression such as “every three months.”
The plural “quarterlies” refers to multiple publications or reports issued at three-month intervals.
"Readers can compare the sales figures in the company's last three quarterlies."
Quarterly means “every three months”: the word combines “quarter” with “-ly,” turning a part of the year into a regular schedule.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quarterly come from?
“Quarterly” derives from “quarter,” meaning a fourth part, combined with the adverb-forming suffix “-ly.” The word reflects the division of a year into four periods. The underlying term “quarter” comes through Old French from Latin quartarius, related to quartus, the ordinal form of quattuor, “four.” The same Latin family also includes words such as “quart,” “quartet,” and “fourth.”
How quarterly is actually used
As an adjective and adverb, “quarterly” is standard in business, finance, publishing, and administration. As a noun, it commonly refers to a publication or report issued every three months. The term can also mean “every three months” when used adverbially.
Easily confused with quarterly
A quarterly measure occurs four times a year, whereas a quartile is one of the four equal groups into which a statistical distribution is divided.