expansion joint

American  

noun

1. a joint between two parts of a structure, machine, etc., permitting expansion, as from heat, without structural damage.

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expansion joint British  

noun

1. engineering a gap in steel or concrete to allow for thermal expansion

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Etymology

Origin of expansion joint

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

The works then progresses over the following months to bridge waterproofing, concrete repairs, resurfacing, expansion joint replacements, edge beam strengthening, and barrier upgrades.

From BBC • Sep. 7, 2025

Two lanes of the westbound Tacoma Narrows Bridge will be closed for at least “several days” after a routine inspection found crumbling concrete next to an expansion joint.

From Seattle Times • May 13, 2024

Drivers in Everett will encounter another inconvenient truth this week, as major expansion joint work begins for northbound Interstate 5, and lanes close for the five evenings.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2023

Contractors for the Washington State Department of Transportation will replace a giant expansion joint installed in 1989, that officials say might break someday and force an emergency closure if it isn’t replaced.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 22, 2022

If an "expansion" joint were provided, there would be a sufficient length of iron pipe if it passed direct from the junction with the heating apparatus into the stokery.

From The Turkish Bath Its Design and Construction by Allsop, Robert Owen