Other forms: instalments
An instalment is one of a series of regular part-payments. Pay in instalments, the first instalment, monthly instalments.
It also means one part of a serialised story — Dickens published nearly all his novels in instalments, and the cliffhanger exists because of it. This is the British spelling; American writing doubles the l. Note that buying by instalments is much older than the credit card.
1nouninstalmentOne of a series of regular part-payments.
“We're paying for the sofa in monthly instalments over a year.”
2nounserialisedOne part of a serialised story.
“Readers waited eagerly each week for the next instalment of the story in the newspaper.”
instalment is a part.
Also accepted in games: installment