episode
C1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A distinct, self-contained event or sequence of events within a larger story, period, or series.
A single instalment of a serialised television or radio programme; a significant but limited period in someone's life, medical history, or a process.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. Carries a connotation of being a distinct unit within a larger, often narrative, whole. Can refer to fictional narratives, historical periods, or personal experiences (e.g., a depressive episode).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The word is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
episode of [something]episode in [something/history/life]episode from [a series]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a passing episode”
- “a stormy episode (in a relationship)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might describe a discrete phase in a project or a market fluctuation.
Academic
Common in history, literature, and medical contexts to describe a distinct period or event.
Everyday
Very common, primarily in the context of television and radio series.
Technical
Used in medicine (e.g., psychotic episode, acute episode), psychology, and narratology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - Not standard.
American English
- N/A - Not standard.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Not standard.
American English
- N/A - Not standard.
adjective
British English
- N/A - Not standard. Use 'episodic'.
American English
- N/A - Not standard. Use 'episodic'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I watched a funny episode on TV last night.
- The next episode is on Monday.
- The final episode of the series was very exciting.
- He missed two episodes while he was on holiday.
- The documentary examined a controversial episode in the country's colonial history.
- After a brief episode of dizziness, she felt fine again.
- The negotiations were merely an episodic interlude in a prolonged period of hostility.
- Her research focuses on narrative structures within episodic television formats.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TV SERIES: each EPISODE is a piece (EPI-) of the whole story that you SIT (-SODE) down to watch.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A NARRATIVE / HISTORY IS A STORY (e.g., 'an episode in his life', 'a dark episode in the nation's history').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'эпизод' в значении 'маленькая роль' или 'появление в кадре' (это 'cameo' или 'bit part'). В русском 'эпизод' часто означает незначительное событие, в английском 'episode' может быть и очень значительным, но ограниченным во времени.
- В контексте сериала — точный эквивалент 'серия'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'episode' to mean 'season' (e.g., 'I watched the first episode of Stranger Things' is correct; 'I watched the first episode, it has 8 episodes' is incorrect for meaning 'season').
- Misspelling as 'episod' or 'episoad'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to episode' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In a medical context, 'episode' most likely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its most common modern use is for TV/radio, it can refer to any distinct event within a sequence, such as in history ('an episode of violence'), medicine ('a depressive episode'), or someone's life.
A 'season' (or 'series' in UK English) is a set of episodes produced and broadcast together. An 'episode' is a single instalment within a season.
No, 'episode' is exclusively a noun. The related adjective is 'episodic'.
Yes, the standard plural is 'episodes' (e.g., 'I've seen all the episodes').
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