combination
Americannoun
-
combinations
plural
-
the act of combining or the state of being combined.
- Synonyms:
- coalescence, union, conjunction, association
-
a number of things combined.
a combination of ideas.
- Synonyms:
- amalgam, amalgamation, mixture
-
something formed by combining.
A chord is a combination of notes.
-
an alliance of persons or parties.
a combination in restraint of trade.
- Synonyms:
- conspiracy, cabal, bloc, monopoly, combine, cartel, coalition, league, federation, association
-
the set or series of numbers or letters used in setting the mechanism of a combination lock.
-
the parts of the mechanism operated by this.
-
Often combinations. a suit of underwear in one piece.
-
Mathematics.
-
the arrangement of elements into various groups without regard to their order in the group.
-
a group thus formed.
-
noun
-
the act of combining or state of being combined
-
a union of separate parts, qualities, etc
-
an alliance of people or parties; group having a common purpose
-
-
the set of numbers that opens a combination lock
-
the mechanism of this type of lock
-
-
a motorcycle with a sidecar attached
-
maths
-
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
-
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
-
-
the chemical reaction of two or more compounds, usually to form one other compound
-
chess a tactical manoeuvre involving a sequence of moves and more than one piece
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
intercombinationnoun
-
noncombinationnoun
-
precombinationnoun
-
supercombinationnoun
-
combinationaladjective
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
com-, con-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Yet the combination didn’t click with the company’s customers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
This combination allows researchers to create glass with magnetic or light-emitting characteristics that previously could not be achieved without exposing the material to potentially destructive temperatures.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
Tigress Financial Partners analyst Ivan Feinseth told MarketWatch that Microsoft and Amazon were benefiting from “a combination of post-election relief, declining policy uncertainty, renewed investor enthusiasm for AI and cloud computing and significant short covering.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
The island's homes are powered by a combination of wind and solar power.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
The combination of the summit’s collapse and the first two landslides lowered the mountain thirteen hundred feet.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
"It's really complex because there are so many combinations," he said.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Previously, if fulfillment centers were out of certain size and style combinations, stores shipped those online orders themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Weak initial connections allow incorrect combinations to separate, giving the proteins another opportunity to find a better arrangement.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026
In 34 cases, the combinations intensified the effects on bacteria.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
Hey—this might be something they could get into with Ms. Hussey one day: accidental combinations of sounds and ideas.
From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
