clinch

American  

[klinch] / klɪntʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to settle (a matter) decisively.

   After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate.

   Synonyms:

   confirm, conclude, close, secure, cinch

2. to secure (a nail, screw, etc.) in position by beating down the protruding point.

   He drove the nails through the board and clinched the points flat with a hammer.

3. to fasten (objects) together by nails, screws, etc., secured in this manner.

4. Nautical. to fasten by a clinch.

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verb (used without object)

1. Boxing. to engage in a clinch.

   The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.

2. Slang. to embrace, especially passionately.

3. (of a clinched nail, screw, etc.) to hold fast; be secure.

noun

1. the act of clinching.

2. Boxing. an act or instance of one or both boxers holding the other about the arms or body in order to prevent or hinder the opponent's punches.

3. Slang. a passionate embrace.

4. a clinched nail or fastening.

5. the bent part of a clinched nail, screw, etc.

6. a knot or bend in which a bight or eye is made by making a loop or turn in the rope and seizing the end to the standing part.

7. Archaic. a pun.

clinch British  

/ klɪntʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to secure (a driven nail) by bending the protruding point over

2. (tr) to hold together in such a manner

   to clinch the corners of the frame

3. (tr) to settle (something, such as an argument, bargain, etc) in a definite way

4. (tr) nautical to fasten by means of a clinch

5. (intr) to engage in a clinch, as in boxing or wrestling

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noun

1. the act of clinching

2. 1. a nail with its point bent over

   2. the part of such a nail, etc, that has been bent over

3. boxing wrestling an act or an instance in which one or both competitors hold on to the other to avoid punches, regain wind, etc

4. slang a lovers' embrace

5. nautical a loop or eye formed in a line by seizing the end to the standing part.

Other Word Forms

• clinchingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of clinch

First recorded in 1560–70; later variant of Middle English clench

Example Sentences

Jordan Chiles with a 9.950 on vault to clinch the W!

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

In May they won their first major trophy, beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup, then added another three months later with a penalty shootout win over Liverpool to clinch the Community Shield.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

“This may be the last chance to clinch a deal,” said Saeid Golkar, associate professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and an expert on Iran’s military.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

But he remains a politician staunchly rooted in the mid-aughts, when all 7,000 of his teeth could really clinch an election.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2026

Then, just to show you how crazy I am, when we were coming out of this big clinch, I told her I loved her and all.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• assure
• cap
• conclude
• decide
• seal