Linkage

/ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ/ noun

noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A mechanical device that connects things.
  • Grammar: linkage is listed as noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: gene linkage, accord, addition, adjunct.
  • Useful contrasts: broken ties, unconnected patches, disconnection.
  • Usage evidence: The linkage between the RV and the car was weak, allowing for the car to be left behind at the first pothole.

How to use "linkage"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "linkage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. 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 "linkage" 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 "linkage" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "linkage" 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 "linkage" is acting as noun 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 "gene linkage" 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 "linkage", 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. 1
    A mechanical device that connects things. countable, uncountable

    "A linkage in my car's transmission is broken so I can't shift out of first gear."

  2. 2
    the act of linking things together wordnet
  3. 3
    A connection or relation between things or ideas. countable, uncountable

    "Far from ignoring linkages between gays and the poor and working class, I specifically made the point that they are common victims of the bureaucratic revolution."

  4. 4
    a mechanical system of rods or springs or pivots that transmits power or motion wordnet
  5. 5
    The act or result of linking: the combination of multiple object files into one executable, library, or object file. countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    (genetics) traits that tend to be inherited together as a consequence of an association between their genes; all of the genes of a given chromosome are linked (where one goes they all go) wordnet
  2. 7
    The property of genes of being inherited together. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    an associative relation wordnet
  4. 9
    A set of definitely related languages for which no proto-language can be derived, typically a group of languages within a family that have formed a sprachbund. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    A United States foreign policy, during the 1970s détente in the Cold War, of persuading the Soviet Union to co-operate in restraining revolutions in the Third World in return for nuclear and economic concessions. US, countable, historical, uncountable

Antonyms

broken tiesunconnected patchesdisconnectiondisconnects

Example

"The linkage between the RV and the car was weak, allowing for the car to be left behind at the first pothole."

Common questions

What does "linkage" mean?

A mechanical device that connects things.

What is a synonym for "linkage"?

Common synonyms include: gene linkage, accord, addition, adjunct, affairs, affiliating.

How do you use "linkage" in a sentence?

The linkage between the RV and the car was weak, allowing for the car to be left behind at the first pothole.

How do you pronounce "linkage"?

Pronounced /ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ/.

Etymology

From link + -age.

More for "linkage"