ENGLISH
REFERENCE

deuce

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˈdus// UK //djˈuːs// deuce Archaic Humorous Slang

n. a situation where two people or things are exactly the same. You use this when you want to say that two things are equal or match perfectly.

n. a state of equality or exact correspondence between two entities. Often used in informal contexts to describe a perfect match or a tie.


SIMPLE

The two cars are a perfect deuce.

CONTEXTUAL

After comparing the two contracts, the lawyers realized they were a complete deuce in every detail.

COMPLEX

The two paintings are a deuce, so similar in style and subject matter that even the most experienced art critic would struggle to distinguish the original from the copy.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English dewes (“two”), from Anglo-Norman, from Old French deus, from Latin duo. The word was used by Ford Motor Co. in 1932 to describe a two-seater car model.

Etymology 2

Compare Late Latin dusius (“phantom, specter”); Scottish Gaelic taibhs, taibhse (“apparition, ghost”); or from Old French deus (“God”), from Latin deus (compare deity).

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference