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
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
That said, the fascination with Joe reflects a larger cultural obsession with serial killers.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2025
This included a wide range of stories, from Westerns and detective drama to monster films, character serials or melodramas.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
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Adjective
Many of their remains were discovered in 2010 and 2011 on Gilgo Beach, leading investigators to suspect a serial killer was responsible for the deaths.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
That said, the fascination with Joe reflects a larger cultural obsession with serial killers.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
On the dial, Aimee’s sermons would coexist alongside studio serials such as The Green Hornet and Superman.
—Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2025
This included a wide range of stories, from Westerns and detective drama to monster films, character serials or melodramas.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Feb. 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 30 Apr. 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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