What does seriatim mean?
Seriatim is a formal adverb meaning “one after another” or “in orderly sequence.” It is used when actions, questions, proposals, or sections are handled step by step, often with each item considered separately before the next. For example, a committee may discuss amendments seriatim, meaning that it deals with each amendment in turn rather than debating them all at once. The word has a precise, procedural tone and is especially familiar in legal, academic, and institutional writing. Its Latin origin gives it a formal character that is stronger than that of ordinary alternatives such as “one by one,” while differing from “successively,” which can suggest merely following in time without the same emphasis on separate, orderly treatment. Seriatim is therefore useful when order and individual consideration are important.
adverbIn a sequential order, one after another. Seriatim means proceeding step by step or item by item, especially when each matter is considered separately from the others.
- In a sequential order; one after another, especially item by item or step by step.
"The committee considered the proposals seriatim before reaching a decision."
"The witnesses were questioned seriatim rather than together."
"The report examines each section seriatim and then compares the findings."
From Latin, seriatim literally means “in a series”: it is the polished way to say “one after another.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seriatim come from?
Seriatim comes from Latin, where it was formed from series, meaning “a row, chain, or sequence,” together with the adverbial suffix -atim, which expresses manner or action in a particular way. The Latin adverb originally conveyed the idea of doing something in a series or one after another. English borrowed the word in the 17th century, and it has remained associated especially with formal, ordered discussion and legal or procedural decisions.
Related word forms
How seriatim is actually used
Seriatim is formal and somewhat literary. It is especially common in legal, academic, and procedural contexts, where it suggests that matters are dealt with separately and in an orderly sequence.
Easily confused with seriatim
Seriatim emphasizes proceeding one after another, often with each item treated separately, whereas serially more often describes something occurring in sequence or in series.