Meaning & use
installment or instalment
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
One of several regular payments made over time for something you buy or owe.
Grammar: Countable: you pay an installment, or pay in installments.
Patterns
- pay something in installments
- pay an installment on something
- the first installment
We paid for the sofa in twelve monthly installments.
She missed an installment on her car loan and got a warning letter.
The first installment is due when you sign the contract.
nouncountable
One part of a story, series, or program that is published or shown in several parts.
Grammar: Countable; often used with of: the final installment of the series.
Patterns
- the first installment of something
- a new installment
- the final installment
The next installment of the documentary airs on Sunday.
Readers waited a year for the final installment of the trilogy.
Each installment ends with a cliffhanger.
Word forms
| plural | installments |
|---|---|
| plural (British) | instalments |
Common combinations
- monthly installment
- They agreed to pay a monthly installment of $200.
- pay in installments
- You can pay in installments if you prefer.
- installment plan
- The store offers an installment plan for large purchases.
- the first installment
- The first installment is due at the end of the month.
- installment payments
- He made four installment payments over the year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- payment
- Payment is the general word for any money handed over; an installment is specifically one part of a series of payments.
- episode
- Episode fits TV or radio series better; installment is broader and also covers books and money.
Word family
- installment plan noun
- An arrangement to pay over time in regular parts.
Commonly confused: installment or instalment or installation? installment or instalment or instalment?
installment or instalment vs installation
Installation means the act of putting equipment in place or a piece of installed equipment; an installment is a payment or part of a series.
installment or instalment vs instalment
This is the same word spelled the British way; the meaning is identical.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses the word correctly.
Choose one answer.
'In three installments' correctly means three separate payments. 'Installations' means equipment being set up, and 'installment' cannot follow 'three' without a plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “installment or instalment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.