# serial

/ˈsɪˌɹiəɫ/ (US) · /sˈiəɹɪəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/serial
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sequential

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

happening in a specific order or series.

For teachers: arranged in or consisting of a series; following a chronological or logical sequence.

- The computer processes the data in serial order, one piece after another.
- The processor handles instructions in a serial fashion, ensuring that each task is completed before the subsequent operation begins.

Usage: Often used in technical or academic contexts to contrast with 'parallel'.

### 2. habitual or repeating

adjective · CEFR B2

doing the same thing many times, often used for crimes or bad habits.

For teachers: performing a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly over a period of time.

- The police finally caught the serial thief who had been robbing houses for months.
- Psychologists studied the serial offender to understand the behavioral patterns that led to such frequent recidivism.

### 3. in installments

adjective · CEFR B2

published or shown in several parts over a period of time.

For teachers: published, broadcast, or produced in successive installments.

- The magazine is publishing a serial story that continues every month.
- The author gained fame through the serial publication of his novels in Victorian literary journals.

### 4. a story in parts

noun · CEFR B2

a story, radio show, or TV programme that is told in many separate parts.

For teachers: a literary or dramatic work published or broadcast in regular installments.

- I missed the last part of the serial, so I don't know how the story ended.
- The television serial captivated the nation for ten weeks, culminating in a finale that broke all previous viewing records.

### 5. software key

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a code or number you need to make a computer program work.

For teachers: a serial number, specifically a unique alphanumeric string required to activate or register software.

- I lost the serial for my photo editing software and couldn't reinstall it.
- The user was unable to bypass the activation screen because the serial provided in the documentation was invalid.

### 6. to assign a number

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

to give a unique number to something in a series.

For teachers: to assign a serial number to an item, typically for tracking or identification purposes.

- The factory serials every engine before it is shipped to the customer.
- The aviation authority requires manufacturers to serial every critical component to ensure traceability in the event of mechanical failure.

## Examples

- The new detective serial starts on television tonight.
- Many famous nineteenth-century novels were first published as a weekly serial in popular literary magazines.
- The author gained a massive following by releasing her latest thriller as a digital serial, ensuring that readers remained engaged through weekly cliffhangers and community discussions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.