one-to-one

American  

[wuhn-tuh-wuhn] / ˈwʌn təˈwʌn /

adjective

1. Also (of the relationship between two or more groups of things) corresponding element by element.

2. one-on-one.

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one-to-one British  

adjective

1. (of two or more things) corresponding exactly

2. denoting a relationship or encounter in which someone is involved with only one other person

   one-to-one tuition

3. maths characterized by or involving the pairing of each member of one set with only one member of another set, without remainder

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noun

1. a conversation, encounter, or relationship between two people

Etymology

Origin of one-to-one

First recorded in 1870–75

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Compare meaning

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

• onto vs. one-to-one

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

one-to-one

Came out on top in one-to-one duel with Calvert-Lewin in first half but found it much harder in the second.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

Since the financial crisis, the ratio has been around one-to-one.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Both had arrived hours earlier for one-to-one interviews.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

This obviously isn’t a one-to-one comparison and involve different sides of the DOJ.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

There should be no disparity—the ratio should be one-to-one.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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