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
Sarah Weinman, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
Authorities also described the crew as serial thieves who previously targeted other drivers.
—Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
At its height, the serial reached ten million listeners, airing multiple times per day.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
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Adjective
She was captivated by the sheer number of serial killers running amok in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s and ’80s.
—Sarah Weinman, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
Authorities also described the crew as serial thieves who previously targeted other drivers.
—Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
Noun
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
At its height, the serial reached ten million listeners, airing multiple times per day.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 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 2 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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