1
: of, relating to, consisting of, or arranged in a series, rank, or row
serial order
2
: appearing in successive parts or numbers
a serial story
3
: belonging to a series maturing periodically rather than on a single date
serial bonds
4
: of, relating to, or being music based on a series of tones in a chosen pattern without regard for traditional tonality
5
a
: performing a series of similar acts over a period of time
a serial killer
b
: occurring in or involving such a series
a serial murder
6
: relating to or being a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted sequentially over a single wire compare parallel
1
a
: a work appearing (as in a magazine or on television) in parts at intervals
b
: one part of a serial work : installment
2
: a publication (such as a newspaper or journal) issued as one of a consecutively numbered and indefinitely continued series
Examples of serial in a Sentence
Adjective
The pictures are numbered and arranged in serial order.
Scientists made serial observations over a period of two weeks.
Noun
the university library has a vast collection of serials
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
This time, we're introduced to Lottie, a grandmother who moonlights as a serial killer—and is forced to come out of retirement due to a series of unfortunate events.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 4 July 2025
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 6 June 2025
In 1922, John Stevenson was killed while doubling for Pearl White, the star of The Perils of Pauline serials.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
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Adjective
The waters of a Texas lake remain shrouded in mystery as dozens of young men’s bodies continue to be pulled from the depths, putting a community on edge as rumors of a serial killer continue to swirl.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
This time, we're introduced to Lottie, a grandmother who moonlights as a serial killer—and is forced to come out of retirement due to a series of unfortunate events.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 4 July 2025
Noun
Nathan Howard | Reuters Taken from CNBC’s Daily Open, our international markets newsletter — Subscribe today
Developments from the White House are growing more exciting and unpredictable than those 1,000-episode Asian drama serials.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 6 June 2025
In 1922, John Stevenson was killed while doubling for Pearl White, the star of The Perils of Pauline serials.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
Cite this Entry
“Serial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serial. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
serial
1 of 2 adjective
se·ri·al
ˈsir-ē-əl 
1
: consisting of or arranged in a series, rank, or row
serial order
2
: appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly
a serial story
3
: being or relating to a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted one at a time over a single wire
serial
2 of 2 noun1
: a work appearing (as in a magazine or on television) in parts at regular intervals
2
: one part of a serial work
serialist
noun
ˈsir-ē-ə-ləst
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