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instalment

B2
UK/ɪnˈstɔːlmənt/US/ɪnˈstɔːlmənt/

neutral

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

One of the parts into which a payment is divided, to be paid at regular intervals.

One of several parts of something that is produced or published over a period of time, such as a serialized story or series.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The primary meaning is financial, but it extends metaphorically to any sequential release or part of a larger whole.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

British English prefers the spelling 'instalment'. American English uses 'installment' (double 'l').

Connotations

No difference in connotation.

Frequency

Equally frequent in both dialects within their respective spheres.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
monthly instalmentfinal instalmentpay in instalmentsfirst instalment
medium
small instalmentregular instalmentmiss an instalmentnext instalment
weak
easy instalmentweekly instalmentsubstantial instalmentforthcoming instalment

Grammar

Valency Patterns

pay an instalmentthe first instalment ofin instalmentsan instalment on

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

tranchesegment

Neutral

paymentportionpart

Weak

chapterepisode

Vocabulary

Antonyms

lump sumfull paymentone-off payment

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “pay by instalments”
  • “on the instalment plan”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

A standard term in finance and retail for deferred payment plans.

Academic

Used in discussions of serialized literature or historical payment systems.

Everyday

Common when discussing purchases like furniture or appliances on credit.

Technical

Specific in contract law and financial agreements.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The software will instalment the updates automatically.
  • They agreed to instalment the loan over three years.

American English

  • The software will installment the updates automatically.
  • They agreed to installment the loan over three years.

adverb

British English

  • The fee is payable instalmently over six months.

American English

  • The fee is payable installmently over six months.

adjective

British English

  • They offer an instalment plan.
  • It was an instalment payment system.

American English

  • They offer an installment plan.
  • It was an installment payment system.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • I paid for my phone in three instalments.
  • The first instalment is due today.
B1
  • You can spread the cost over twelve monthly instalments.
  • I'm waiting for the next instalment of my favourite podcast.
B2
  • The final instalment of the loan carried a higher interest rate.
  • Dickens published many of his novels in weekly instalments.
C1
  • The government's latest fiscal instalment met with criticism from economists.
  • The treaty was implemented in several instalments over the decade.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'stall' in the middle – you stall the full payment by paying in INSTALments.

Conceptual Metaphor

PAYMENT IS A JOURNEY (made in stages/parts).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse with 'рассрочка' (the process/plan). 'Instalment' is one part of the рассрочка.
  • Avoid direct calque 'инсталмент'. Use 'взнос' or 'часть платежа'.

Common Mistakes

  • Incorrect spelling in AmE: 'instalment'. Incorrect: 'pay by an instalment' (correct: 'pay in instalments' or 'pay by instalments').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
We decided to buy the car on an plan, paying a sum each month.
Multiple Choice

In which context is 'instalment' LEAST appropriate?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

They are the same word with different regional spellings. 'Instalment' is British English, 'installment' is American English.

Yes, it can refer to any part of a series released over time, like an episode of a TV show or a chapter of a serialized novel.

Both are correct and commonly used ('pay by instalments', 'pay in instalments').

Paying a 'lump sum' or making a 'one-off payment'.