installment

1 of 2

noun (1)

variants or less commonly instalment
Synonyms of installmentnext
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

Examples of installment in a Sentence

Noun (1) attended the installment of the new university president
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
An eighth installment in the franchise is even scheduled to be released in theaters in May 2027. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 The new installment will chronicle an entire NFL division during one of the most consequential periods of the football calendar as teams look to build and strengthen their rosters through the NFL Scouting Combine, free agency, and the NFL Draft. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 Parton’s last Hannah Montana visit was during the fourth and final installment’s 11th episode, just two episodes before the series finale. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 The social media giant said the payment will be distributed in annual installments over a 10-year period. Todd Spangler, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for installment

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of installment was in 1589

Cite this Entry

“Installment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/installment. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

installment

1 of 2 noun
in·​stall·​ment

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
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