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

All three of those shows have been given large episodic orders so that they can be sold into daytime syndication, including on Nexstar stations. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

When money was tight, the series faced slashed budgets and shrinking episodic orders that continually tested the cast and crew’s determination to keep it alive. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

That includes 235 total applications across all categories, including 21 feature film applications and 24 permits for episodic television projects. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

Succession, at both the executive and the board level, is not an episodic search to run when a seat opens. — Shawn Cole, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for episodic

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