combination
Pluralcombinations
- 1Two or more things put together, or the act of putting them together.
Like a smoothie made by blending different fruits into one drink.
The new sauce was a tasty combination of garlic and lemon.
Their house is a strange combination of old brick and new glass.
UsageSay a combination of things, like a combination of garlic and lemon.
- 2
- 3A group of items chosen from a set when the order does not matter.
Like picking three toppings for a pizza, where the order you name them does not change the pizza.
Picking two fruits from a basket of five gives many different combinations.
Each combination of numbers has the same chance of being drawn.
UsageWhen the order matters, the word is permutation.
Note
- 4A group of people who join together to work toward a shared goal.
Like a team where everyone works for the same win.
In the 1800s, workers who joined a combination could lose their jobs.
Long ago, the weavers formed a combination and refused to work for less.
Similaralliance, coalition, cartel, association, league
Less common meanings
- 5A quick series of punches or other strikes made one right after another in boxing or other combat sports.
Like playing several quick notes in a row on a piano.
The boxer landed a fast combination to the head.
The boxer landed a fast combination to his opponent's head.
UsageA boxer throws or lands a combination.
- 6A series of chess moves that leaves the opponent few replies and gains an advantage, often starting by giving up a piece.
Like a planned series of moves in checkers that slowly traps your opponent.
She won the game with a clever combination that trapped the king.
He gave up a knight to start a winning combination.
UsageA player finds or sees a combination.
Note
- 7A shot in pool where the cue ball hits one ball, and that ball hits another.
Like knocking over one domino so it pushes the next one down.
He sank the eight ball with a tricky combination.
She lined up a combination to reach the corner pocket.
UsageAlso called a combination shot.
Note
- 8A motorcycle with a small attached car on one side for a passenger.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Late Latin "combinatio" and came into English through Old French. It is made from "combine" plus "-ation".
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The word comes from Late Latin combinatio. en.wiktionary.org
- The word entered English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org
- The word is morphologically combine plus -ation. en.wiktionary.org