What does "coupling" mean?
The act of joining together to form a couple.
Coupling
/ˈkʌplɪŋ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of joining together to form a couple.
- Grammar: coupling is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: adultery, agglomeration, agglutination, aggregation.
- Useful contrasts: detach, disconnect, disconnection.
- Usage evidence: This month, Austria’s Greens joined the governing coalition in Vienna, led by the right-wing conservative People’s Party, a coupling that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
How to use "coupling"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "coupling" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "coupling" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "coupling" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "coupling" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "coupling" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adultery" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "coupling", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of joining together to form a couple. countable, uncountable
"It is the first British yard in which every activity of hump marshalling, except for the driving of the hump locomotive and the uncoupling and coupling of wagons, is fully automatic or drastically simplified by modern aids."
- 2 the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes wordnet
- 3 A device that couples two things together. countable, uncountable
- 4 a mechanical device that serves to connect the ends of adjacent objects wordnet
- 5 The degree of reliance between two or more software modules. countable, uncountable
"The lack of coupling means that the elements of our system are better isolated from each other and from change. This isolation makes it easier to understand each element of the system."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a connection (like a clamp or vise) between two things so they move together wordnet
- 7 A connection between two electronic circuits such that a signal can pass between them. countable, uncountable
- 8 The property of physical systems that they are interacting with each other countable, uncountable
- 9 An act of sexual intercourse. countable, uncountable
"The biggest film of March 1992 was “Basic Instinct,” an erotic thriller featuring an established movie star in explicit onscreen couplings with a sexy up-and-comer."
- 10 A link between the performance of an action and the location where that action occurs or the method used to perform that action. countable, uncountable
"It seems just as likely, though, that it simply never occurred to him to think about crime as something so tightly tied to place. Literary theorists and bridge engineers and police chiefs struggle with coupling."
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of couple form-of, gerund, participle, present
Example
"This month, Austria’s Greens joined the governing coalition in Vienna, led by the right-wing conservative People’s Party, a coupling that would have been unthinkable a few years ago."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "coupling"?
Common synonyms include: adultery, agglomeration, agglutination, aggregation, ankle, articulation.
How do you use "coupling" in a sentence?
This month, Austria’s Greens joined the governing coalition in Vienna, led by the right-wing conservative People’s Party, a coupling that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
How do you pronounce "coupling"?
Pronounced /ˈkʌplɪŋ/.
Etymology
From Middle English couplynge; equivalent to couple + -ing.