ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tandem

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtændəm// UK //tˈændəm// tan·dem

n. working together with someone else. You use this word when two people or things do something at the same time.

n. a state or arrangement of two entities working together or moving in unison. Often used in the fixed phrase 'in tandem'.


SIMPLE

The two cyclists rode in tandem.

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing and sales teams worked in tandem to launch the new product.

COMPLEX

The two political parties moved in tandem on the issue of tax reform, presenting a united front to the public.

Synonyms
Origin

PIE word *téh₂m The noun is borrowed from Latin tandem (“of time: at last, at length, finally”), applied humorously in English to two horses harnessed “at length” (that is, in a single line) instead of side-by-side. Tandem is derived from tam (“so, to such an extent”) + -dem (demonstrative suffix). The adjective, adverb, and verb are derived from the noun.

Usage

Typically used in the prepositional phrase 'in tandem'.

Pitfall

in tandem with each otherin tandemThe phrase 'in tandem' already implies mutual action; adding 'with each other' is redundant.

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