compound sentence

American  

noun

1. a sentence containing two or more coordinate independent clauses, usually joined by one or more conjunctions, but no dependent clause, as The lightning flashed (independent clause) and (conjunction) the rain fell (independent clause).

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compound sentence British  

noun

1. a sentence containing at least two coordinate clauses

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compound sentence Cultural  

1. A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by conjunctions: “Dr. Watson explained his theory, and Sherlock Holmes listened quietly.” (Compare complex sentence, compound-complex sentence, and simple sentence.)

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Etymology

Origin of compound sentence

First recorded in 1765–75

Compare meaning

How does compound-sentence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• compound sentence vs. complex sentence
• simple sentence vs. compound sentence

Example Sentences

The compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses.

From Public Speaking by Stratton, Clarence

Rule 3.—The comma is used before the coördinate conjunction in a compound sentence.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose

If the fundamental ideas of the two clauses bear certain definite and evident relations to each other, they should stand in one compound sentence.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)

Use the semicolon to separate the clauses of a compound sentence that are long or that are not joined by conjunctions.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas

This leaves room for any number of subordinate clauses in a compound sentence: the requirement is simply that it have at least two independent clauses.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt