couplet

noun

cou·​plet ˈkə-plət 

1

: two successive lines of verse forming a unit marked usually by rhythmic correspondence, rhyme, or the inclusion of a self-contained utterance : distich

She ended her poem with a rhyming couplet.

2

: couple

Synonyms of couplet

• pair
• couple
• duo
• twain

Examples of couplet in a Sentence

a poem made up of six couplets

a couplet of statues flank the entrance to the church

Recent Examples on the Web

Sharon had submitted a dozen couplets about the virtues of stay-at-home motherhood, as well as a rhyming list of reasons to believe in God. —Literary Hub, 11 May 2026

Their past three outings, eliminating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of Round 1 and the first couplet of their current best-of-seven showdown with the Vegas Golden Knights, have shown new facets of their game. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 7 May 2026

Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap have always been ferocious rappers, two goliaths spitting bilingual bars over gritty electronica with the couplet-completing precision of Run the Jewels. —Dean Van Nguyen, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026

Either way, these couplets start to reveal just how curious this poem is. —New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, diminutive of Old French cuple, couple — see couple entry 1

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing couplet

• closed couplet
• heroic couplet

Kids Definition

couplet

noun

cou·​plet ˈkəp-lət 

: two lines of verse that follow in order and form a unit

especially : two rhyming lines of the same length