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

In 2026, interest-bearing installment loans accounted for over 37% of annual BNPL loan issuance, which is nearly double the share in 2021, according to a new report from Protect Borrowers. — Stephanie Dhue,sharon Epperson, CNBC, 14 July 2026

The first three movies followed that core group before the fourth installment pivoted to the world of Wonderland (though Alice isn’t part of this story). — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026

Last year alone, the five-month delay of the 2025 second installment of taxes cost CPS about $30 million, or approximately $220,000 per day at the peak. — Jennifer Custer, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Interview ended with a tender reunion between Lestat and Louis, and audiences’ appetite for the sexy blood-suckers, arguably the hottest couple on TV, has only grown in anticipation of the latest installment of their story. — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 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