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Meaning & use

serial

adjective, noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈsɪəriəl/
US/ˈsɪriəl/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Happening one after another in a series or order.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: serial number.

    Patterns

    • serial number
    • serial port

    Every bank note has a unique serial number.

    The printer connects through a serial port.

    The data was stored in serial order.

  2. adjectivebefore a noundisapproving

    Doing the same thing repeatedly over a period, used mainly of bad behavior.

    Grammar: Often disapproving: serial offender.

    Patterns

    • serial killer
    • serial offender

    Police arrested a serial thief who targeted shops.

    He is a serial entrepreneur who has started six companies.

    She was a serial complainer at work.

  3. nouncountable

    A story or program published or broadcast in regular parts.

    Grammar: Often used for TV and radio: a radio serial.

    Patterns

    • a serial on television

    The novel first appeared as a serial in a magazine.

    We followed the radio serial every evening.

    The detective serial ran for twelve weeks.

Word forms

pluralserials

Common combinations

serial number
Write down the serial number of your laptop.
serial killer
The documentary is about a serial killer.
serial offender
The court jailed a serial offender.
serial entrepreneur
As a serial entrepreneur she has founded many startups.
television serial
The television serial ended with a cliffhanger.

Synonyms and how they differ

consecutive
Consecutive means following one after another without a gap, while serial suggests a planned series.
repeated
Repeated means happening many times, while serial suggests a recurring pattern.
episodic
Episodic describes a story told in separate parts, while serial describes the series as a whole.
habitual
Habitual describes a regular habit, while serial usually describes repeated crimes or projects.

Opposites

singleone-off

Word family

series noun
a number of things coming one after another
serialize verb
to publish or broadcast in parts
serialization noun
publishing a story in installments
serially adverb
one after another

Commonly confused: serial or cereal?

serial vs cereal

Cereal is grain or breakfast food and sounds identical; serial refers to a series.

Practice

Which word fits: The bank checks the ____ number on each note to detect fakes.

Make it your own

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