English Reference
noun

synchronization

n.
US /ˌsɪŋkɹənəˈzeɪʃən/ syn·chro·niza·tion UK spelling synchronisation, synchronizations

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the state of two or more things happening at exactly the same time or speed.

    the state or property of being synchronized in time or rate.

    Simple

    The dancers moved in perfect synchronization with the music.

    In context

    The synchronization of the two clocks was essential for the experiment to yield accurate data regarding the speed of the particles.

    coordinationsimultaneityalignment
    desynchronization
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    making sure that data on two different devices, like your phone and computer, is the same.

    the process of ensuring that data sets in two or more locations are identical and updated simultaneously.

    Simple

    The synchronization of my contacts across all my devices took only a few seconds.

    In context

    Cloud-based synchronization allows multiple users to collaborate on the same document without creating conflicting versions of the file.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced TechnicalFormal Law

    organizing different military groups so they attack or move at the right time and place together.

    the arrangement of military actions in time, space, and purpose to produce maximum relative combat power at a decisive point.

    Simple

    The general emphasized that synchronization between the air force and the army was the key to victory.

    In context

    Effective synchronization of multi-domain operations requires seamless communication between disparate units to exploit brief windows of tactical advantage.

As their numbers grew, more cells pulsed together, and their synchronization increased, up to a point.

Phys.org· 14 Aug 2026

This triggers a synchronization capability in GPM that allows users to transfer all stored passkeys to a new device.

Ars Technica· 11 Aug 2026

From synchronize + -ation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated