installment

1 of 2

noun (1)

in·​stall·​ment in-ˈstȯl-mənt 

variants or less commonly instalment

1

: one of the parts into which a debt is divided when payment is made at intervals

2

a

: one of several parts (as of a publication) presented at intervals

b

: one part of a serial story

installment adjective

installment

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly instalment

: installation sense 1

Synonyms of installment

Noun (1)

• inauguration
• inaugural

Examples of installment in a Sentence

Noun (1)

attended the installment of the new university president

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Melissa Barrera, who starred in the fifth and sixth movies, was fired from the seventh installment in 2023 after expressing support for the Palestinian cause and criticizing Israeli actions in the Israel-Hamas war. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026

For the first time ever, the show's fourth installment beckons viewers downstairs, past the formal drawing rooms and lavish ballrooms, and into the kitchens, back hallways, and living quarters of the working class who keep the fantasy running upstairs. —Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026

The second installment in the monthly series, which runs through June, will feature celebrity Philadelphia chef Marc Vetri on March 18. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026

Losing a half-billion dollars The annual meeting of the California Canning Peach Association typically celebrates the history and future of the industry, but a funereal tone shrouded this year’s event, the 104th installment. —Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of earlier estallment payment by installment, from estall to arrange payments by installment, from Anglo-French estaler, from estal station, stall, division of a stage, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German stal place, stall

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1589, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing installment

• installment plan

Rhymes for installment

• instalment

Kids Definition

installment

1 of 2 noun

in·​stall·​ment

variants also instalment

in-ˈstȯl-mənt 

: installation sense 1

installment

2 of 2 noun

variants also instalment

1

: one of the parts into which a debt is divided when payments are made over a period of time

2

: one of several parts (as of a publication) presented over a period of time

installment adjective

Legal Definition

installment

noun

in·​stall·​ment

: one of the parts into which a debt is divided when payment is made at intervals

installment adjective