one-to-one
Americanadjective
-
Also (of the relationship between two or more groups of things) corresponding element by element.
adjective
-
(of two or more things) corresponding exactly
-
denoting a relationship or encounter in which someone is involved with only one other person
one-to-one tuition
-
maths characterized by or involving the pairing of each member of one set with only one member of another set, without remainder
noun
Etymology
Origin of one-to-one
First recorded in 1870–75
Compare meaning
How does one-to-one compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
This obviously isn’t a one-to-one comparison and involve different sides of the DOJ.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
Guidara Sr. taught him things during one-to-one meetings but he also led by example, Tipton said, “instilling that ownership mentality.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
A lawyer herself, Harris notes that because the country already has 13 intermediate courts of appeal, a 13-member Supreme Court would allow each justice to review motions from a lower court one-to-one.
From Slate ● Sep. 3, 2026
Entrepreneur Steven Bartlett was so taken with Murdoch's work he offered the artist both one-to-one advice and a job painting the walls of his new London offices.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“I know there is some complicated mathematical equation that figures that out, but no, I don’t think it’s a one-to-one ratio thing. We can ask after this is all over.”
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
