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
Escher Walcott, People.com, 7 June 2025
Fears that a serial killer is at large were reignited by the recent discovery of a body in a Texas lake, where 19 corpses have been found over the past three years.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
David Szondy
june 08, New Atlas, 8 June 2025
With a visual style reminiscent of silent films, pulp serials, and very early computer games, Lucas Pope’s masterpiece begins with a mystery: The Obra Dinn, a merchant vessel missing since 1803, has suddenly appeared off the coast of England five years later, with all 60 souls aboard dead.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The discovery of Suazo's body marks the 13th unexplained death in remote or wooded areas in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine since March, sparking concerns of a possible serial killer on the loose in the region, Fox News reported.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 7 June 2025
Fears that a serial killer is at large were reignited by the recent discovery of a body in a Texas lake, where 19 corpses have been found over the past three years.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
Noun
These were followed by the likes of Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Wyndham, H.P. Lovecraft, and many others in novels, short stories, comics, films, Saturday morning serials (with singing cowboys!), and television shows.
—David Szondy
june 08, New Atlas, 8 June 2025
With a visual style reminiscent of silent films, pulp serials, and very early computer games, Lucas Pope’s masterpiece begins with a mystery: The Obra Dinn, a merchant vessel missing since 1803, has suddenly appeared off the coast of England five years later, with all 60 souls aboard dead.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 6 May 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 15 Jun. 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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