installments - Master This Word
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installments Word Meanings
- a part of a payment of a larger sum
- a division of a debt payable at a specific time
- a sequence of actions or parts of a story given at intervals
installments Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
installments Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪnˈstɔːlmənt/
US
/ɪnˈstɑlmənt/
installments Word Etymology
installment = in- (into) + stall (to set up, place) + -ment (act of). Origin: Latin → Old French → English. Imagine receiving a gift of a new bike over several months, each month you get one part and you get excited, like bits of joy coming into your life.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Installment is a noun with three main meanings: a part of a payment of a larger sum; a division of a debt payable at a specific time; and a sequence of actions or parts of a story given at intervals. In everyday use, people buy big items and pay in installments, or read a story released in installments. The etymology traces to in- (into) + stall (to place) + -ment, via Latin and Old French. In American English, installments is the common spelling; British English often uses instalment for the payment sense. Common collocations include pay in installments, installment plan, and first/next installment. Example: I paid the first installment last month when I bought the laptop.
Usage Reminders
- - Remember the American spelling installment; British usage prefers instalment.
- - Installment can mean a money payment or a piece of a serialized story.
- - Common phrases: pay in installments, installment plan, first installment, next installment.
- - Do not confuse with the verb install, which means to set up or put in place.
- - Installment is not tied to a fixed monthly schedule; terms vary by agreement.
Common Misconceptions
- It only means a monthly payment; installments can be weekly or yearly.
- Instalment is a completely different word with a separate meaning.
- An installment cannot refer to a part of a serialized story.
- Each installment must be the same fixed amount.
- Installment always refers to debt; it cannot describe publication.
Thinking Differences
In English, installment emphasizes a defined piece of a larger payment schedule or a portion of a serialized work; learners should notice that the phrase can refer to money or to chapters released over time.
Learning Tips
- memorize the three meanings and their typical collocations
- notice the US vs UK spellings and use accordingly
- associate installments with plans, not just monthly payments
- practice with both money contexts and serialized content
- compare with related term 'install' to avoid false friends
- create your own example sentences
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