episodic

adjective

ep·​i·​sod·​ic ˌe-pə-ˈsä-dik How to pronounce episodic (audio)
also
-ˈzä- How to pronounce episodic (audio)
variants or less commonly episodical
ˌe-pə-ˈsä-di-kəl How to pronounce episodic (audio)
 also  -ˈzä-
1
: made up of separate especially loosely connected episodes
2
: having the form of an episode
3
: of or limited in duration or significance to a particular episode : temporary
may be able to establish whether the sea-floor spreading is continuous or episodicA. I. Hammond
4
: occurring, appearing, or changing at usually irregular intervals : occasional
an episodic illness
episodically
ˌe-pə-ˈsä-di-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce episodic (audio)
 also  -ˈzä-
adverb

Examples of episodic in a Sentence

the long novel was filmed for television as an episodic movie that was shown over the course of five evenings malaria is characterized by episodic attacks of chills and fever that coincide with mass destruction of blood cells
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The second is the paroxysmal phase, characterized by a sudden, episodic increase of symptoms, especially cough, and can last six weeks. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025 The Mad Men echoes are tough to shake, too: There are shots in here, like Coop looking forlorn in an elevator, that might as well be episodic photos from Mad Men. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 11 Apr. 2025 Budenholzer’s communication with some players—or lack thereof—became an episodic soap opera throughout the season. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025 That’s the result of 37 percent fewer episodic series in the ’23-’24 season compared to ’22-’23, or just 223 shows compared to 362 the year before. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for episodic

Word History

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of episodic was in 1711

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Cite this Entry

“Episodic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/episodic. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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