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Definition of installment

installment

/ɪnˈstɔːlmənt/
(UK: instalment)
in · stall · ment
Plural:installments
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installment Lexical Profile

installment Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A sum of money due as one of several equal payments for something, spread over an agreed period of time.

Example

"They agreed to pay off the new refrigerator in twelve monthly installments."

2

American One of several parts of a story, television series, or publication released successively at intervals.

Example

"Readers eagerly awaited the final installment of the fantasy trilogy."

3

American The act of installing someone in an official position or setting up equipment for use.

Example

"The ceremonial installment of the new university president took place in the main auditorium."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Spelled "installment" in American English and "instalment" in British English. Avoid confusing it with "installation," which is the standard modern noun for the act of setting up equipment or software.

• Rhymes for installment

• Nearby Words

install
installation
installer
installment
instance
instant
instantaneous

Word Origin & Etymology

Originally formed in the late 16th century from the verb "install" in the sense of formally placing someone in office, the word was reshaped in the 18th century under the influence of obsolete "estall" (to arrange a debt for payment in parts).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Installment. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/installment
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