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Synonyms

installment

1 American  
[in-stawl-muhnt] / ɪnˈstɔl mənt /
especially British, instalment

noun

  1. Finance. any of several parts into which a debt or other sum payable is divided for payment at successive fixed times; the scheduled periodic payment made on an installment loan.

    to pay for furniture in monthly installments.

  2. a single portion of something furnished or issued by parts at successive times.

    a magazine serial in six installments.
installment 2 American  
[in-stawl-muhnt] / ɪnˈstɔl mənt /
Or instalment

noun

  1. the act of installing. install.

  2. the fact of being installed; install; installation.

Other Word Forms

  • reinstallment noun

Etymology

Origin of installment1

First recorded in 1770–75; in- 2 + obsolete (e)stallment, equivalent to estall “to arrange payment on an installment plan” (perhaps from Anglo-French ) + -ment

Origin of installment2

First recorded in 1580–90; install + -ment

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It also has a high car title loan mix of 62%, with monthly installment payments higher than those for motorcycle title loans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Much like the first installment, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” features a couple of bonus scenes that are shown after the credits begin to roll.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The formula still entertains, sure, but its bite has been blunted by the weight of copycats that came after the first installment.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

He even directed the third installment of the "Creed" series himself.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

Each new installment in their adventures sold as fast as it was printed.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.