plural joints
1
a
: a point where two bones meet in the body
the elbow/knee/shoulder joint
She's been having pain in her muscles and joints.
b
: a place where two things or parts are joined
seal the joints of the pipes
2
informal
a
: a particular place
People were running all over the joint. [=everywhere]
b
: a cheap bar or club
I can't believe we came to a (cheap) joint like this.
c
: an informal restaurant
a hamburger/pizza joint
3
informal
: a marijuana cigarette
smoking a joint
4
US slang
: prison
five years in the joint
5
chiefly British
: a large piece of meat for roasting
a joint of beef
always used before a noun
1
: combining the work of two or more people or groups of people
It took a joint [=united] effort to get the job done.
a joint session of (both houses of) Congress
2
: done by or involving two or more people
a joint venture
joint research
filing a joint tax return
They had a joint account at the bank.
divorced parents who have joint custody of their child
(Brit) They came in joint third. [=they both finished in third place]
3
: doing something together
joint owners
Cite this Entry
“Joint.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/joint. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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