What does season mean?
A season is one of the four divisions of the year—spring, summer, autumn or fall, and winter—or, more generally, a period marked by particular weather, customs, or activities. The word can also refer to a favorable time for doing something, as when fruit is “in season.” As a verb, to season food is to add salt, herbs, spices, or other flavorings. By extension, “to season” can mean enriching or intensifying something, often through experience: a performance may be seasoned by years of practice. The verb also has specialized meanings involving allowing wood or metal to mature or preparing it for use. These senses share the idea of a time or process that gives something its developed character. Season is useful because it connects cycles of time, suitable conditions, and the gradual development of flavor, quality, or strength.
One of the four divisions of the year, or a period characterized by particular weather, activities, customs, or circumstances.
"Mild temperatures made it feel more like spring than winter."
The North American form “fall” is common as a synonym for “autumn.”
To add salt, herbs, spices, or other flavorings to food; by extension, to enrich or intensify something.
"The chef seasoned the vegetables with lemon, pepper, and fresh herbs."
The figurative sense, meaning to develop or strengthen something through experience, is common but usually somewhat literary or formal.
Use the plural for distinct divisions or periods of the year, as in “the four seasons,” and for recurring periods in general.
"The resort is busiest during the warmer seasons."
Season comes from the same idea as sowing: the best time to plant a crop is one of the four seasonal windows that follow the year’s turning points.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does season come from?
Season ultimately comes through Old French saison from Latin sationem, a noun meaning “sowing” or “time for sowing.” The sense developed from the appropriate time for planting and gathering crops to the broader idea of a recurring period of the year. Its food-related verb meaning grew from the practice of preparing food with seasonings. The Latin root sationem is also connected with words such as satisfy and satiety through the broader idea of sufficiency.
Related word forms
How season is actually used
In the sense of a period of the year, “season” is standard in British and American English. The North American form “fall” is used instead of “autumn.” As a verb, “season” can mean adding flavor to food, and by extension it can mean enriching or intensifying an experience, as in “a career seasoned by difficult assignments.” The separate meanings involving aging timber or preparing metal for use are more specialized.
Easily confused with season
A season is a period of the year, while seasoning is salt, herbs, spices, or another flavoring added to food.