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

An aide whose connection to Sampson is revealed in the closing seconds of this busy installment is played by Chris Owens, who resembles disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner of New York. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

Friend initially optioned the rights from Paramount Pictures, which had eventually turned the film into a seven-chapter series, with an eighth installment on the way next year. — William Earl, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

His legal troubles escalated to jail time in June, after his positive THC test violated a probation specifically designed to stop this conversation from returning for a third installment. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

The first installment in a trilogy, The Dallergut Dream Department Store follows Penny, who has just landed her dream job — selling dreams to customers at the legendary Dallergut Dream Department Store. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Aug. 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