combination
Americannoun
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combinations
plural
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the act of combining or the state of being combined.
- Synonyms:
- coalescence, union, conjunction, association
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a number of things combined.
a combination of ideas.
- Synonyms:
- amalgam, amalgamation, mixture
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something formed by combining.
A chord is a combination of notes.
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an alliance of persons or parties.
a combination in restraint of trade.
- Synonyms:
- conspiracy, cabal, bloc, monopoly, combine, cartel, coalition, league, federation, association
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the set or series of numbers or letters used in setting the mechanism of a combination lock.
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the parts of the mechanism operated by this.
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Often combinations. a suit of underwear in one piece.
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Mathematics.
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the arrangement of elements into various groups without regard to their order in the group.
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a group thus formed.
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noun
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the act of combining or state of being combined
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a union of separate parts, qualities, etc
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an alliance of people or parties; group having a common purpose
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the set of numbers that opens a combination lock
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the mechanism of this type of lock
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a motorcycle with a sidecar attached
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maths
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an arrangement of the numbers, terms, etc, of a set into specified groups without regard to order in the group
the combinations of a, b, and c, taken two at a time, are ab, bc, ac
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a group formed in this way. The number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time is n !/[( n – r )! r !]. Symbol: n C r Compare permutation
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the chemical reaction of two or more compounds, usually to form one other compound
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chess a tactical manoeuvre involving a sequence of moves and more than one piece
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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intercombinationnoun
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noncombinationnoun
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precombinationnoun
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supercombinationnoun
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combinationaladjective
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uncombinationaladjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of combination
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English combinacyoun, from Middle French, from Late Latin combīnātiōn-, stem of combīnātiō “a joining by twos,” equivalent to combīnāt(us) “combined,” literally, “joined by twos” (past participle of combīnāre; see combine) + -iō -ion
Explanation
A combination is a grouping together of separate things. Your desire to live to a big city might come from a combination of your dreams of being on stage, and your obsession with underground trains. Combination is the act of combining, which comes from the Latin for "joining together two by two," although it's not necessary that you combine things in pairs. Your famous party mix might be a combination of pretzels, nuts, and espresso beans. Your locker combination is the set of numbers you have to dial to open the lock. If you plan to go on a TV talent show, get ready to learn some dance combinations. Kick, spin, drop, roll!
Vocabulary lists containing combination
List 1
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com-, con-
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
For fans who made the trip, the combination of America’s favorite sport with France’s tradition of public protest has created an odd dissonance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
“In partnership with Jean-Georges, we’re building a lifestyle destination that blends world-class dining, holistic wellness, and elevated service—a combination that deeply resonates with globally-recognized athletes, food connoisseurs, and art and culture enthusiasts.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
The trial also found that the new drug combination reduced the risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer, spreading by 38% over two years compared to immunotherapy alone.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
The researchers suspect that the combination of nutrients in a balanced diet, along with an individual's overall health, may influence how effectively omega-3s support the brain.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026
The combination of old food and nothing made me lonely.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
The Cambridge experiments demonstrate that such combinations can sometimes produce substantially different effects than the ingredients do separately.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
Chants of 'oh Fabio Wardley' were quickly silenced as Dubois continued to unload punishing combinations.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
Only one of the four possible combinations of answers centers on birth year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
If researchers study different combinations of patients, they may observe very different patterns, even though everyone involved has received the same diagnosis.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026
The game is so complex, with more possible combinations of moves than there are atoms in the known universe, there’s an exception to every rule.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
