A series of events that repeat in the same order; as a verb, to ride a bicycle or to go through repeating stages.
From Greek 'kyklos' meaning 'circle' or 'wheel'. The idea of a circle became a metaphor for anything that comes around again and again.
A cycle is time’s way of drawing a circle—days, seasons, habits, all looping back. Once you spot a cycle, you can start to predict the future a little bit.
While “cycle” is neutral, it is sometimes used as shorthand for the menstrual cycle, historically treated as a taboo or medicalized aspect of women’s bodies. Medical and social discourse often framed menstrual cycles as sources of instability or weakness, which fed discriminatory narratives about women’s rationality and suitability for work or leadership.
Be explicit about meaning (e.g., “menstrual cycle,” “business cycle,” “life cycle”) and avoid using “cycle” to stereotype mood or competence (e.g., jokes about someone being ‘on their cycle’).
["period (for menstruation)","menstrual cycle","phase","pattern"]
When discussing menstrual cycles, acknowledge that research and product design have historically under-served women and people who menstruate, and that much knowledge about cycle tracking and care has been advanced by women researchers and advocates.
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