episodic

adjective

ep·​i·​sod·​ic ˌe-pə-ˈsä-dik 

also

-ˈzä- 

variants or less commonly episodical

ˌe-pə-ˈsä-di-kəl 

also -ˈzä-

1

: made up of separate especially loosely connected episodes

2

: having the form of an episode

3

: of or limited in duration or significance to a particular episode : temporary

… may be able to establish whether the sea-floor spreading is continuous or episodic …

—A. I. Hammond

4

: occurring, appearing, or changing at usually irregular intervals : occasional

an episodic illness

episodically

ˌe-pə-ˈsä-di-k(ə-)lē 

also -ˈzä-

adverb

Synonyms of episodic

• serial
• serialized

Examples of episodic in a Sentence

the long novel was filmed for television as an episodic movie that was shown over the course of five evenings

malaria is characterized by episodic attacks of chills and fever that coincide with mass destruction of blood cells

Recent Examples on the Web

The episodic eruption has been contained within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, including the Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera. —ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025

Lionsgate Studios revenue fell for the three months ended in September, missing Wall Street forecasts on fewer films and the timing episodic TV deliveries. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025

In addition to the episodic narrative, the show works well thanks to its standout cast. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025

The film is episodic and uneven, but Cook’s impish glee at being bad in the most frustrating ways possible is a lot of fun. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for episodic

• periodic
• anodic
• melodic
• prosodic
• rhapsodic
• spasmodic
• antispasmodic
• aperiodic
• photoperiodic
• sodic