tandem

American  

[tan-duhm] / ˈtæn dəm /

adverb

1. one following or behind the other.

   to drive horses tandem.

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adjective

1. having animals, seats, parts, etc., arranged tandem or one behind another.

noun

1. a vehicle, as a truck, tractor, or trailer, in which a pair or pairs of axles are arranged in tandem.

2. tandem bicycle.

3. tandem trailer.

4. a team of horses harnessed one behind the other.

5. a two-wheeled carriage with a high driver's seat, drawn by two or more horses so harnessed.

6. any of various mechanisms having a tandem arrangement.

idioms

1. in tandem,

   1. in single file.

      They swam in tandem.

   2. in association or partnership.

tandem British  

/ ˈtændəm /

noun

1. a bicycle with two sets of pedals and two saddles, arranged one behind the other for two riders

2. a two-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses harnessed one behind the other

3. a team of two horses so harnessed

4. any arrangement of two things in which one is placed behind the other

5. together or in conjunction

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adjective

1. used as, used in, or routed through an intermediate automatic telephone exchange

   a tandem exchange

adverb

1. one behind the other

   to ride tandem

Etymology

Origin of tandem

First recorded in 1735–45; special use (originally facetious) of Latin tandem “at length, finally,” equivalent to tam “so far” + -dem, demonstrative suffix

Explanation

Tandem describes an arrangement where people or animals are in formation, one behind the other. Couples attached at the hip sometimes like to ride tandem bicycles, which allow two people to pedal the same bike. How cute. In 1785, tandem first came into existence as a noun meaning “carriage pulled by horses harnessed one behind the other.” About a hundred years later, people started to use tandem to refer to bicycles with two seats. This type of bicycle has two sets of pedals and two seats, but only one set of wheels. To transform tandem into an adverb, just stick in in front of it. "In tandem" can just mean "together" — like two departments working in tandem on a project.

Example Sentences

Over thousands of years, collective rituals have evolved in tandem with religious practice.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Lumentum, which usually moves in tandem with its peer, added 5.6%.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

"In almost every other case we know of, TAA and TAG change in tandem," explained Dr. McGowan.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2026

Mercian Cycles, which has been making bikes since 1946 and was rescued from liquidation in 2024, built the lightweight steel-framed, hand-painted red tandem to James's exact dimensions, along with a blue back-up bike.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

We will learn to forgive ourselves in tandem.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

Related Words

• club
• company
• lineup
• organization
• party
• side
• squad
• unit