What does "conjunction" mean?

1. (grammar) a word used to connect other words, phrases, or parts of a sentence. 2. (happening together) the situation where two or more things happen at the same time or work together. 3. (astronomy) when two planets or stars appear to be in the same place in the sky. 4. (logic) a statement that uses 'and' to join two other statements.

How do you use "conjunction"?

In linguistics, it refers to a specific functional category of words. Often used in the phrase 'in conjunction with'.

conjunction

US //kənˈdʒəŋkʃən// UK //kəndʒˈʌŋkʃən// con·junc·tion

1 grammar (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

a word used to connect other words, phrases, or parts of a sentence.

a part of speech used to connect words, phrases, or clauses, indicating the semantic relationship between the joined elements.

Example

Words like 'and', 'but', and 'because' are common conjunctions in English.

Example

The student struggled to distinguish between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions when analyzing complex sentence structures.

Usage

In linguistics, it refers to a specific functional category of words.
- connector
- link
2 happening together (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the situation where two or more things happen at the same time or work together.

the state of being joined or occurring together; a coincidence or combination of events.

Example

The success of the project was due to a conjunction of hard work and good luck.

Example

The economic crisis was caused by a rare conjunction of high inflation, energy shortages, and political instability.

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'in conjunction with'.
- separation
- disconnection

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3 astronomy (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

when two planets or stars appear to be in the same place in the sky.

the alignment of two celestial bodies such that they have the same celestial longitude as observed from a third body, usually Earth.

Example

Amateur astronomers gathered to watch the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

Example

The rare planetary conjunction provided researchers with a unique opportunity to calibrate their deep-space observational equipment.
- alignment
- opposition
4 logic (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Math

a statement that uses 'and' to join two other statements.

a compound proposition that is true if and only if all its component propositions are true.

Example

In logic, a conjunction is only true if both parts of the sentence are true.

Example

The truth table demonstrates that the conjunction of two variables remains false unless both inputs are simultaneously verified.
- disjunction

Origin

From Old French conjonction, from Latin coniūnctiō (“joining”), from coniungere (“to join”).