dual

1 of 2

adjective

du·​al ˈdü(-ə)l 

also ˈdyü-əl

1

of grammatical number : denoting reference to two

a dual pronoun

2

a

: consisting of two parts or elements or having two like parts : double

families with dual incomes

held dual citizenship in France and the U.S.

a dual function

a dual exhaust system

b

: having a double character or nature

dual

2 of 2

noun

1

linguistics : the dual (see dual entry 1 sense 1) number of a language

2

linguistics : a linguistic form in the dual

Synonyms of dual

Adjective

• twin
• binary
• double

Examples of dual in a Sentence

Adjective

the dual purpose of the study

She pursued dual careers in music and acting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

All dual-use items are banned from being exported to Japan for military use effective immediately, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Tuesday. —Josh Xiao Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026

Hoeg, a dual citizen of the US and Denmark, noted that with fewer vaccines, there’s less exposure to aluminum, which is used as an ingredient to create a stronger immune response so doctors can give kids fewer doses. —Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026

Noun

Groundhog Day of that year found the pair attending a wrestling dual at Oklahoma State University together. —Deborah Kim, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2025

Avila’s theory couldn’t say anything about the higher-level structure of the dual. —Lyndie Chiou, Wired News, 1 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Latin dualis, from duo two — more at two

First Known Use

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dual

• dual carriageway
• dual citizenship
• dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
• dual meet
• dual-purpose

Rhymes for dual

• cruel
• duel
• fuel
• gruel
• jewel
• newel
• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• biofuel
• contextual

Kids Definition

dual

adjective

du·​al

ˈd(y)ü-əl

1

: consisting of two parts or elements : having two parts alike

dual headphone jacks

2

: having a double character or nature

a dual function

dual citizenship

duality

d(y)ü-ˈal-ət-ē

noun

dually

ˈd(y)ü-ə-lē

adverb

Etymology

Adjective

from Latin dualis "dual," from duo "two" — related to deuce, double, dozen