combination
Americannoun
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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
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.
The combination of high prices and slower wage growth means Americans have to make do with less, at least until inflation begins to recede again.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
The combination of high prices and slower wage growth means Americans have to make do with less, at least until inflation begins to recede again.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Its unifying force was a combination of Banerjee's charismatic personal appeal and the patronage that comes with power.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
The drug combination also showed a 100% response rate in a small group of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Either way, once she’d handed over the vial, she’d collapsed from a combination of mental and physical exhaustion.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
