joint

1 of 3

noun

ˈjȯint

plural joints

Synonyms of joint next

a(1)

: the point of contact between elements of an animal skeleton with the parts that surround and support it

the hip joint

(2)

: node sense 5b

: a part or space included between two articulations, knots, or nodes

: a place where two things or parts are joined

a joint between two pieces of timber

: a space between the adjacent surfaces of two bodies (such as bricks) joined and held together (as by cement or mortar)

: a fracture or crack in rock not accompanied by dislocation

: the flexing part of a cover along either spine edge of a book

: the junction of two or more members of a framed structure

: a union formed by two abutting rails in a track including the elements (such as bars and bolts) necessary to hold the abutting rails together

: an area at which two ends, surfaces, or edges are attached

: a shabby or disreputable place of entertainment

a cheap joint

: place, establishment

a hamburger joint

slang : prison sense 2

spent five years in the joint

: a marijuana cigarette

smoking a joint

chiefly British : a large piece of meat for roasting

a joint of beef

jointed

ˈjȯin-təd

adjective

jointedly adverb

jointedness noun

joint

2 of 3

adjective

: united, combined

the joint influences of culture and climate

: common to two or more: such as

a(1)

: involving the united activity of two or more

a joint effort

(2)

: constituting an activity, operation, or organization in which elements of more than one armed service participate

joint maneuvers

(3)

: constituting an action or expression of two or more governments

joint peace talks

: shared by or affecting two or more

a joint fine

: united, joined, or sharing with another (as in a right or status)

joint heirs

mathematics : being a function of or involving two or more variables and especially random variables

a joint probability density function

jointly adverb

joint

3 of 3

verb

jointed; jointing; joints

transitive verb

: to unite by a joint : fit together

joint two boards

her elbows and shoulders are jointed wrong—

Irish Digest

: to provide with a joint : articulate

: to prepare (something, such as a board) for joining by planing the edge

: to separate the joints of

joint a piece of meat

intransitive verb

: to fit as if by joints

the stones joint neatly

: to form joints as a stage in growth

—used especially of small grains

Phrases

out of joint

of a bone : having the head slipped from its socket

: at variance

: disordered sense 2a

: being out of humor : dissatisfied

losing put him out of joint

Example Sentences

Noun She's been having pain in her muscles and joints. seal the joints of the pipes Adjective filing a joint tax return They had a joint account at the bank. divorced parents who have joint custody of their child

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sprawled out and smoking a joint on a video call, Healy is eager to discuss lines from the album, often singing them to himself to jog his memory. —

Vulture, 14 Oct. 2022 Or, maybe just stick to smoking a joint or eating a brownie — where local laws allow. —

Troy Farah, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021 From the beginning of the 20th century until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, international balances of power were more weirdly skewed, more out of joint, than at any time before or since. —

Paul Kennedy, WSJ, 30 Dec. 2022 Last-minute packing and trip anxieties throw them out of joint. —

Duane Bygre, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Nov. 2022 The Bruins of late built more puck-protection and net-battle drills into their morning skates to test Grzelcyk’s shoulder, which kept slipping out of joint in the second half of last season. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2022 However, the joints of the cervical spine in the neck, and most of the shoulder joint, are deeper than the Voltaren can penetrate. —

Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 11 Oct. 2022 Funky Picnic Brewery and Cafe in Fort Worth is expanding in the form of a speakeasy bar and pizza joint. —

Dallas News, 21 Sep. 2022 Issues stabilizing your scapula, or your shoulder blade, can also contribute to shoulder pain since the stabilizing muscles on the backside of your shoulder assist with proper positioning of the joint. —

Jenny Mccoy, SELF, 16 Sep. 2022

Adjective

Bonita Brown was named interim president of Northern Kentucky University during a joint finance and policy meeting Wednesday morning. —

Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 19 Jan. 2023 Last week, Princess Kate and Prince William both smiled for selfies during their first joint appearance of 2023. —

Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 18 Jan. 2023 The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is in the process of becoming a Smithsonian Affiliate, which would enable their research institutes to share collections and exhibits, and to conduct joint research. —

Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2023 Kristian Wilkerson was having a strong camp when a concussion from a blindside cheap shot during a joint practice with the Panthers ended his season. —

Jim Mcbride, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Jan. 2023 The 2022 tax brackets for married couples filing joint returns are: 37% for incomes greater than $647,850. —

Elisabeth Buchwald, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2023 The two have now made 20 movies together, a virtually unheard-of joint body of work. —

Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2023 The joint endeavor to merge function and form, while celebrating both artificial and natural light, has resulted in items unlike anything seen at IKEA before. —

Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2023 This will help stretch out that muscle and open up some of the joint space in the cervical spine. —

Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 17 Jan. 2023

Verb

The Obama administration had pushed to create and joint the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a free trade agreement with 11 other Pacific Rim countries — but that effort was abandoned by then-President Trump. —

Courtney Subramanianstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2022 Texas Tech won its 2021 opener in Houston, but that was the weekend before those four schools got invitations to joint the Big 12. —

Stephen Hawkins, Chron, 8 Sep. 2022 While anyone can joint the waitlist, only residents who meet the state’s eligibility criteria and live in one of 17 ZIP codes will be invited to book appointments for the federal doses. —

Dallas News, 25 Feb. 2021 To joint the meeting online, go to https://zoom.us/j/97915479743. —

Roy Kent, Houston Chronicle, 20 Sep. 2020 The ramen joint in Prospect Lefferts Gardens is offering contactless pickup for everything from all-purpose flour to ramen noodles, homemade miso and stock. —

Elspeth Velten, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2020 Hua only jointed Twitter -- which is blocked by China's Great Firewall -- relatively recently, one of a number of Chinese diplomats and foreign ministry officials who have taken to the platform to get their message out. —

James Griffiths, CNN, 22 Apr. 2020 Even some of the most expensive hard swimbaits will blow out on a warp-speed retrieve, but Bucca’s jointed Bull Shad (available in sizes as small as 3 inches and up to 9 inches) is made to swim true at any speed. —

Pete Robbins, Field & Stream, 2 Mar. 2020 Four years ago, Manchester native Unger and her family purchased Tuck Shop from DJ Fernandes, lending the popular Coronado joint a little European spit and polish, but largely leaving its homey, comfort food vibe intact. —

Dominic Armato, azcentral, 17 Jan. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'joint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English jointe, from Anglo-French, from joindre — see join entry 1

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from past participle of joindre — see join entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of joint was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Joint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joint. Accessed 28 Jan. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

joint

1 of 3 noun

ˈjȯint

: the point of contact of two bones in the animal body often including the surrounding and supporting parts

: node sense 2

: a part or space included between two joints, knots, or nodes

the upper joint of the arm

: a large piece of meat for roasting

: a place where two things or parts are joined

a joint in a pipe

: a cheap or shabby place of entertainment

: place entry 1 sense 2b, establishment

: a marijuana cigarette

jointed

-əd

adjective

joint

2 of 3 adjective

: united sense 1, combined

a joint effort

: done by or shared by two or more persons

a joint account

: sharing with another

joint owner

jointly adverb

joint

3 of 3 verb

: to fit together

: to provide with a joint

: to separate the joints of

jointer noun

Medical Definition

joint

noun

ˈjȯint

: the point of contact between elements of an animal skeleton whether movable or rigidly fixed together with the surrounding and supporting parts (as membranes, tendons, or ligaments)

the capsule of the shoulder joint