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
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Hole, Oleg and Martin Aminov (Simon J Berger), a petty gun smuggler mistakenly accused of being the serial killer, wind up in a stationary elevator stuck between two floors with an armed Waaler reaching in to grab Oleg’s hair.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
From there, the troupe has tackled a diverse range of shows — full plays, one-acts, 10-minute plays, festivals, sketch comedy, works-in-progress, a musical and a serial — in spaces all over town.
—Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for serial
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Adjective
Alleged serial killer Rex Heuermann is expected to plead guilty at an April 8 court appearance, and admit to killing women and dumping their bodies near Gilgo Beach along with other locations on Long Island, according to a source familiar with the case.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Hole, Oleg and Martin Aminov (Simon J Berger), a petty gun smuggler mistakenly accused of being the serial killer, wind up in a stationary elevator stuck between two floors with an armed Waaler reaching in to grab Oleg’s hair.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
Having the right size pan for each task means everything comes together at the same time, rather than cooking in serial and serving a lukewarm dinner.
—Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
From there, the troupe has tackled a diverse range of shows — full plays, one-acts, 10-minute plays, festivals, sketch comedy, works-in-progress, a musical and a serial — in spaces all over town.
—Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for serial
Cite this Entry
“Serial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serial. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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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