Illustration of dovetail
- 1 mortises
- 2 tenons
- 3 joint
: something resembling a dove's tail
especially
: a flaring tenon and a mortise into which it fits tightly making an interlocking joint between two pieces (as of wood)
dovetailed; dovetailing; dovetails
1
a
: to join by means of dovetails
b
: to cut to a dovetail
2
a
: to fit skillfully to form a whole
b
: to fit together with
: to fit together into a whole
Examples of dovetail in a Sentence
Verb
the Union and the Confederate accounts of the battle don't dovetail at all
Recent Examples on the Web
Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
The Times’ Malia Mendez sat down with members of the all-Filipino cast to discuss the ways the show’s exploration of the perils of authoritarianism dovetail with the modern political moment.
—Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
China’s rising costs of living have also dovetailed with record low birth rates in 2025, adding to a growing sense of loneliness among many in the country.
—Matthew Chin,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dovetail
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Noun
There's just something about old furniture that showcases wood with dovetail joinery and a perfect patina, evoking a cozy sense of nostalgia.
—Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
The Times’ Malia Mendez sat down with members of the all-Filipino cast to discuss the ways the show’s exploration of the perils of authoritarianism dovetail with the modern political moment.
—Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
With Harry, a personal spiral is only one case away, and as the series begins, there are several percolating catastrophes that might be ready to dovetail in self-destruction.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
China’s rising costs of living have also dovetailed with record low birth rates in 2025, adding to a growing sense of loneliness among many in the country.
—Matthew Chin,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dovetail
Cite this Entry
“Dovetail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dovetail. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dovetail
1 of 2 noun
dove·tail
-ˌtāl 
: something shaped like a dove's tail
especially
: a joint between two pieces (as of wood) formed by a wedge-shaped part that fits tightly into a wedge-shaped slot in the other piece
dovetail
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to join by means of dovetails
b
: to cut to a dovetail
2
: to fit skillfully together to form a whole
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