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
Examples of coupling in a Sentence
the couplings between railroad cars
a coupling of literature and science
Recent Examples on the Web
After a one-time installation, the entire coupling process takes just a few seconds.
—
Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 19 June 2024
Before their coupling, Christine had been matched up with Kaz Bishop, and previously made out with Nigel at a cast gathering during a game.
—Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
For most of the forces, the couplings change slowly with distance.
—Stanley J. Brodsky, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
The hotel room itself becomes a part of the fight, too, as Carano reverses herself off the couch, Fassbender slides her through a display of decorative vases, and the bed houses their ultimate coupling, which ends with Carano on top.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coupling 
Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 19 June 2024
Before their coupling, Christine had been matched up with Kaz Bishop, and previously made out with Nigel at a cast gathering during a game.
—Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
For most of the forces, the couplings change slowly with distance.
—Stanley J. Brodsky, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
The hotel room itself becomes a part of the fight, too, as Carano reverses herself off the couch, Fassbender slides her through a display of decorative vases, and the bed houses their ultimate coupling, which ends with Carano on top.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coupling
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coupling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near coupling
Cite this Entry
“Coupling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coupling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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