serial

/ˈsɪriəl/

/ˈsɪriəl/

Other forms: serials

Serial means arranged in a series. If you get a serial number with your new phone, that's a number assigned to the phone when it was made, to distinguish it from all the other phones.

Serial has nothing do to with breakfast (that's cereal). It means "in regular succession." If you make a deposit into your savings every week without fail, those are serial payments. You might not recognize grandma after her serial plastic surgeries. A serial killer kills multiple times in similar ways. If you publish a magazine that comes out periodically, you could call it a serial. And your favorite recurring show on TV is a serial too.

Definitions of serial

1. adjective

   pertaining to or occurring in or producing a series
   “serial monogamy”

   “serial killing”

   “a serial killer”

   “serial publication”
2. adjective

   pertaining to or composed in serial technique
   “serial music”
3. adjective

   of or relating to the sequential performance of multiple operations
   “serial processing”

   synonyms: in series, nonparallel

   asynchronous

   not synchronous; not occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase
4. adjective

   in regular succession without gaps
   “serial concerts”

   synonyms: consecutive, sequent, sequential, successive

   ordered

   having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
5. noun

   a serialized set of programs
   synonyms: series

   types:

   soap opera

   a serialized program usually dealing with sentimentalized family matters that is broadcast on radio or television (frequently sponsored by a company advertising soap products)

   tetralogy

   a series of four related works (plays or operas or novels)

   type of:

   broadcast, program, programme

   a radio or television show
6. noun

   a periodical that appears at scheduled times
   synonyms: serial publication, series

   types:

   semiweekly

   a periodical that is published twice each week (or 104 issues per year)

   weekly

   a periodical that is published every week (or 52 issues per year)

   semimonthly

   a periodical that is published twice each month (or 24 issues per year)

   monthly

   a periodical that is published every month (or 12 issues per year)

   quarterly

   a periodical that is published every quarter (or four issues per year)

   bimonthly

   a periodical that is published twice a month or every two months (either 24 or 6 issues per year)

   biweekly

   a periodical that is published twice a week or every two weeks (either 104 or 26 issues per year)

   type of:

   periodical

   a publication that appears at fixed intervals