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
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The first season focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, with Evan Peters winning Emmy gold for his portrayal of the titular serial killer responsible for the death of at least 17 boys and young men between 1978 and 1991.
—Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 28 July 2025
Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
In the thrilling ode to the days of pulp serials, Billy Campbell threw on a jetpack and aerodynamic helmet as the 1930s title character, a stunt pilot whose airborne exploits put him on the radar of the FBI, Howard Hughes (!) and Nazi spies.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for serial
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Adjective
Once, members of the House without a peep of protest even exalted the infamous serial killer known as the Boston Strangler.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The first season focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, with Evan Peters winning Emmy gold for his portrayal of the titular serial killer responsible for the death of at least 17 boys and young men between 1978 and 1991.
—Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 28 July 2025
Noun
For her work on long-running serial, Fulton received an Editor’s Award at the Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1991 and a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
In the thrilling ode to the days of pulp serials, Billy Campbell threw on a jetpack and aerodynamic helmet as the 1930s title character, a stunt pilot whose airborne exploits put him on the radar of the FBI, Howard Hughes (!) and Nazi spies.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 July 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 4 Aug. 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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