jointly
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jointly
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at joint, -ly
Explanation
When more than one person or group works on something together, they do it jointly. A jointly researched and written term paper should have both the authors' names on the first page. If you and your best friend buy a car together, you do it jointly, and if your whole family chips in to fund your cousin's trip to India, you contribute jointly. You might hear that your favorite radio program is jointly supported by a few local businesses, or read in a poetry magazine that it's jointly edited by two people. Earlier, the preferred word was joinly, though jointly comes from joint and its sense of connection.
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 standard deduction for 2026 for a married couple filing jointly is somewhere between $32,200 and $35,500, depending on age and income.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
If the founder sets up an additional trust jointly for John and Jane, and another for John and Joan and another for Jane and Joan, that could run afoul of the forthcoming rules.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
The telescope is jointly operated by researchers from Université Côte d'Azur/Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur and international collaborators.
From Science Daily • Jun. 27, 2026
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom jointly declared a state of emergency Saturday because of the unhealthful air quality.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026
Grandpa wanted it to be owned jointly by his widow and children, share and share alike.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
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.
