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

The next installment will welcome a new generation of horror fans into the Jason Universe while delivering the practical kills and terror longtime Friday the 13th fans crave. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2026

The film will be directed by Friday the 13th veteran Steve Miner, who played a pivotal role in shaping the murderous character in the second and third installments of the franchise, released in 1981 and 1982, respectively. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2026

This structure means borrowers make 26 payments per year rather than 12, which reduces the size of each individual installment but can be more difficult to budget for. — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 12 Nov. 2026

Riho Sayashi spoke with Billboard Japan for the latest installment of its Women in Music interview series. — Billboard Japan, Billboard, 12 Nov. 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