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
Peter White, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
In the mid-1970s, the tiny farming town of Visalia, California, was plagued by a serial ransacker and rapist.
—Ian Berry, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Lynette Rice, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
Charley’s apparent distaste for serial killers may be a cover for her true nature — note the expression on her face when Dexter talks about the double life serial killers are forced to lead.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
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Adjective
The movie told the story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
—Peter White, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
In the mid-1970s, the tiny farming town of Visalia, California, was plagued by a serial ransacker and rapist.
—Ian Berry, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
This isn’t the first instance of LGBTQ representation on the Bell-Phillip serial.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
Charley’s apparent distaste for serial killers may be a cover for her true nature — note the expression on her face when Dexter talks about the double life serial killers are forced to lead.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 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 29 Sep. 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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