coupling

noun

cou·​pling

(usual for sense 2)

ˈkə-pliŋ 

-pə-liŋ

1

: the act of bringing or coming together : pairing

specifically : sexual union

2

: a device that serves to connect the ends of adjacent parts or objects

3

: the joining of or the part of the body that joins the hindquarters to the forequarters of a quadruped

4

: a means of electric connection of two electric circuits by having a part common to both

Synonyms

• junction
• intersection

Examples of coupling in a Sentence

the couplings between railroad cars

a coupling of literature and science

Recent Examples on the Web

The pair stole America's hearts as the chaotic coupling that was Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard on The Office. —Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025

If that sounds like an unlikely coupling, that's the point. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025

The transfer remained faster across a wide variety of parameters, including the strength of environmental coupling, the range of interactions, and the amount of structural disorder. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025

Instead, the brain and body work in tandem using perception-action coupling to constantly develop precise, flexible movements. —Jared Weiss, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coupling

• decoupling
• uncoupling

Kids Definition

coupling

noun

cou·​pling ˈkəp-liŋ ( 

 usual for sense 2  ),

-ə-liŋ

1

: the act of bringing or coming together

2

: something that connects two parts or things

Medical Definition

coupling

noun

cou·​pling ˈkəp-liŋ, -ə-liŋ 

1

: the joint together with its supporting structures between the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum that joins the hindquarters of a quadruped to the trunk

broadly : the part of the body or the conformation and proportionate length of the part of the body that joins the hindquarters to the forequarters

2

: the tendency of linked traits to be inherited together in offspring of a double heterozygote when both dominant genes occur on one chromosome and both recessive genes occur on the homologous chromosome compare repulsion

3

: bigeminy