serial

8 synonyms and 1 antonym for serial, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Arranged in, or having to do with, a series or repeated succession.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

ongoing series

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

consecutive successive installment

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sequential nonparallel sequent

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Arranged in, or having to do with, a series or repeated succession.

“The factory uses a serial process, where each step must finish before the next begins.”

sequential consecutive successive ongoing installment series nonparallel sequent

Opposites

parallel

2. noun

A story or programme released in regular installments rather than all at once.

“We loved the radio serial and listened to every episode over breakfast.”

series

How to use serial

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

serial killer serial number serial format

Etymology

Formed from "series" plus "-al," modelled on Latin seriālis.

Full origin of serial →

Frequently asked questions

What does “serial” mean?

The word “serial” means arranged in, or having to do with, a series or repeated succession. In plain terms, something happening repeatedly in a sequence, or released bit by bit rather than all at once.

How do you pronounce “serial”?

“Serial” is pronounced SEER-rih-uhl (/ˈsɪɹ.i.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “serial” in a sentence?

Here is “serial” used in a sentence: “He was investigated as a suspected serial offender.”

What part of speech is “serial”?

Depending on how it is used, “serial” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “serial” come from?

The word “serial” comes from Latin. Formed from "series" plus "-al," modelled on Latin seriālis.

Is “serial” a common word?

“Serial” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “serial” have?

“Serial” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: arranged in, or having to do with, a series or repeated succession.

What is the difference between 'serial' and 'cereal'?

They are homophones that sound alike but differ in meaning. 'Serial' relates to a series or successive installments, while 'cereal' is a breakfast food or grain crop.

What is the difference between 'serial' and 'series'?

'Serial' is chiefly an adjective meaning arranged in a series, or a noun for a story released in installments. 'Series' is a noun meaning a set of related things or episodes considered as a group.

Why is it called a 'serial number'?

A serial number is a unique identifier assigned in sequence, using the adjective sense of 'serial' meaning arranged in a series. Each item receives its own number in an ordered succession.

Why is a repeat offender called a 'serial killer'?

The word 'serial' here means occurring in a repeated succession. A serial killer is someone who commits a series of similar crimes over time, one after another.

People also searched

series ongoing parallel consecutive successive installment sequential

Nearby words

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