episodic
/ˌepɪˈsɒdɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌepɪˈsɑːdɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌe-pə-ˈsä-dik also -ˈzä-/ (ame, mw)
episodic — adjective
- episodicpositive
- more episodiccomparative
- most episodicsuperlative
1. happening from time to time without a fixed pattern or regular schedule — not co
happening from time to time without a fixed pattern or regular schedule — not continuous or predictable.
The Watanabe family received only episodic letters from their relatives in the countryside, sometimes going months without any news.
episodic + letters: irregular, infrequent communication
Episodic rain showers kept interrupting the outdoor wedding reception, forcing guests to dash under the tent each time.
episodic rain showers: coming and going unpredictably
Her visits to the gym were episodic at best — she would go every day for a week, then disappear for a month.
The old bus service was so episodic that commuters never knew whether the 7:15 would arrive at all.
- intermittent
more technical; often used for symptoms or signals that stop and start
- occasional
weaker intensity; 'occasional' suggests rarity rather than irregular pattern
- sporadic
implies even less predictability; 'sporadic' suggests random occurrence
- regular
happening at fixed, predictable intervals
- continuous
happening without interruption
文法句型
episodic + noun (episodic visits, episodic rain)
be + episodic
用法筆記
Often describes things that are expected to be regular but are not — like rainfall, visits, or public services. Distinguish from sense 3 (loosely connected events, not irregular timing).
常見錯誤
2. (of a story, show, or programme) told or presented in separate parts or episodes
(of a story, show, or programme) told or presented in separate parts or episodes, especially one part at a time on television, radio, or streaming platforms.
The new detective series has an episodic structure where each episode solves a different crime while the main characters' personal story continues throughout the season.
episodic + structure: each episode is self-contained but linked
Dr. Okafor prefers episodic podcasts because she can listen to any single episode without needing to follow a long, continuous story.
The streaming platform released the documentary as an episodic series, with a new twenty-minute segment every Tuesday.
- serialized
similar but implies stronger overarching plot connecting episodes
- segmented
more general; can refer to any divided structure, not just media
- continuous
not broken into separate parts
- non-episodic
straightforward term for works without episode division
文法句型
episodic + noun (episodic story, episodic series)
用法筆記
Typically describes TV shows, radio dramas, podcasts, and web series. The opposite is 'serial' (one continuous story across episodes) or 'non-episodic'.
常見錯誤
3. made up of separate events, scenes, or memories that are only loosely connected
made up of separate events, scenes, or memories that are only loosely connected and do not form one smooth, continuous whole.
The old man's account of his youth was episodic — he jumped from one vivid memory to another without following a clear timeline.
episodic + memories/account: loosely connected fragments
The novel uses an episodic structure, moving between different characters' perspectives in short, self-contained chapters.
The children's film felt more like a collection of episodic adventures than a story with a single driving plot.
Episodic memory allows people to recall specific personal experiences, like what they ate for breakfast yesterday or where they went on their first holiday.
- fragmentary
emphasizes incompleteness more than 'episodic'
- episodically structured
more explicit; 'episodic' alone can be confusing
- disconnected
stronger negative connotation of lack of coherence
- continuous
forming an unbroken whole
- coherent
logically connected and consistent
文法句型
episodic + noun (episodic narrative, episodic memories)
be + episodic (in structure)
用法筆記
In psychology, 'episodic memory' is a technical term for the ability to recall specific personal experiences. This sense differs from sense 2 (intentionally divided for TV/radio) by focusing on the loose, fragmentary quality of the content itself.
常見錯誤
4. happening as a single, short-lived event that does not continue or become perman
happening as a single, short-lived event that does not continue or become permanent — limited to one episode in time.
The patient's fever was episodic, spiking to 39 degrees for one night and then disappearing completely the next day.
episodic + fever: a single, short-lived occurrence
The night-shift nurse warned that the dizziness might be episodic, lasting only while the medication entered her system.
Their financial problems proved to be episodic — a single bad month that did not signal long-term trouble for the business.
文法句型
episodic + noun (episodic fever, episodic pain)
be + episodic
用法筆記
This is the least common sense. Often found in medical or technical writing about symptoms or conditions that come and go. Distinguish from sense 1 (repeated irregular occurrences) — this sense emphasizes a single occurrence that is temporary, not a pattern of irregular events.