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

• 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

Her other episodic directing credits include Freeform’s Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Love Is (OWN) and Florida Girls (Pop TV). —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025

The Dalai Lama has been the key figure quelling violence when grassroots dissatisfaction has escalated into episodic uprisings in Tibet. —Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025

The meal was episodic, patterned, refusing the very concept of climax in its devotion to the moment. —Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025

The lineup also includes music videos, short films, episodic programming and a host of panels, discussions and special events. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 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