conjunction
gb/kənd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən/ us/kənd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən/
B1
English
~ 6900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
word that joins sentence parts
A word like "and", "but", or "or" that joins words or parts of a sentence.
Usage pattern:
a conjunction like ["and" / "but"]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call any small function word a "conjunction", including prepositions (e.g., calling "to" in "go to school" a conjunction). Another mistake is overusing conjunctions to make very long sentences instead of separating ideas into two sentences.
Synonyms
linking word (Less technical and more descriptive; often used in teaching children.)
|
connective (Common in grammar and discourse analysis; can also refer to other linking words, not only conjunctions.)
Antonyms
punctuation (Contrasts with using a word to link; punctuation marks like commas or semicolons can separate or link clauses without a conjunction.)
Collocations
coordinating conjunction
|subordinating conjunction
|correlative conjunction
|use a conjunction
|link clauses with a conjunction
|omit the conjunction
Themes
language
|education
|communication
Examples
- In the sentence "I wanted to go, but it was raining", the word "but" is a conjunction.
- You can connect these two ideas with the conjunction "and".
- Students often forget to add a conjunction when they join two full clauses.
- The teacher asked us to underline every conjunction in the paragraph.
- A coordinating conjunction joins two parts that are equally important in the sentence.
Learner examples
- "And" is a very common conjunction.
- Use a conjunction to join these two sentences.
- In this sentence, the word "or" is a conjunction.
- She wrote two clauses but forgot the conjunction.
- Circle each conjunction in the text.
Noun
formal
B2
event
2
two or more things together
A situation where two or more things happen or are used together.
Usage pattern:
in conjunction with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "in conjunction with" with "in connection with". "In conjunction with" means "together with" (used at the same time or for the same purpose), while "in connection with" often means "related to" or "about" something.
Synonyms
combination (Very close in meaning, but slightly more general and less formal-sounding than "conjunction".)
|
coincidence (Focuses more on things happening at the same time by chance, while "conjunction" can be planned or functional.)
Antonyms
separation (Opposite because it describes things being kept apart rather than acting or occurring together.)
Collocations
in conjunction with
|a conjunction of circumstances
|used in conjunction with
|working in close conjunction
|rare conjunction of events
|operate in conjunction with
Themes
business
|science
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new drug should be taken only in conjunction with a healthy diet.
- The success of the project resulted from a fortunate conjunction of circumstances.
- This software is designed to be used in conjunction with the main database.
- Several agencies are working in close conjunction to manage the crisis.
- The treatment works best in conjunction with regular exercise.
Learner examples
- He uses this app in conjunction with his calendar.
- The two companies work in conjunction with each other.
- These tools are very strong when used in conjunction with training.
- Her talent and hard work, in conjunction with good timing, brought success.
- The medicine is taken in conjunction with plenty of water.
Noun
technical
C1
event
3
astronomical bodies aligned in sky
In astronomy, a time when two planets, the Moon, or the Sun appear very close together in the sky.
Usage pattern:
a conjunction of [two planets / the Moon and a planet]
Common mistake:
Learners may mistakenly think that during a conjunction the bodies are physically very close in space, when it actually refers to how they appear from Earth, not their real distance.
Synonyms
alignment (Less technical and more general; may be used in popular writing to describe bodies appearing in a straight line.)
Antonyms
opposition (In astronomy, describes when two bodies appear on opposite sides of the sky, contrasting with their appearing together in conjunction.)
Collocations
a rare conjunction
|planetary conjunction
|lunar conjunction
|observe the conjunction
|in conjunction with Jupiter
|exact conjunction
Themes
science
|space
Examples
- Tomorrow there will be a spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter just after sunset.
- The last time these three planets were in such a close conjunction was over 400 years ago.
- Clouds prevented us from seeing the exact moment of the conjunction.
- Astronomers gathered at the observatory to photograph the lunar conjunction.
- The conjunction of Mars with the Moon was clearly visible to the naked eye.
Learner examples
- We stayed up late to watch the conjunction of the Moon and Venus.
- This conjunction of two bright planets will not happen again for many years.
- The teacher showed us photos of a conjunction in the night sky.
- A rare conjunction of three planets happened last month.
- Many people went outside to see the conjunction just after dark.
Noun
technical
C1
relation
4
logical AND operation
In logic and math, a sentence made from two parts with "and" that is only true when both parts are true.
Usage pattern:
the conjunction of [proposition A] and [proposition B]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the everyday meaning of "and" with its strict logical meaning in a conjunction, where order does not matter and the conjunction is false if even one part is false.
Synonyms
AND (The usual symbol or name for this logical operator in computing and formal logic.)
Antonyms
disjunction (The logical operation corresponding to "or", which contrasts with conjunction's "and".)
Collocations
logical conjunction
|Boolean conjunction
|truth-functional conjunction
|conjunction operator
|conjunction of two statements
|evaluate the conjunction
Themes
science
|technology
|education
Examples
- In this proof, we use conjunction to combine the two separate results.
- The statement "P and Q" is the conjunction of the propositions P and Q.
- A conjunction is true only when all of its component statements are true.
- In Boolean logic, conjunction corresponds to the AND operator.
- The conjunction of these conditions significantly narrows the possible outcomes.
Learner examples
- In logic, the conjunction "P and Q" is true only if P and Q are both true.
- "It is raining and it is cold" is a conjunction of two simple sentences.
- The teacher drew a truth table for the conjunction.
- The conjunction connects two statements with "and".
- We wrote the conjunction using the AND symbol.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conjunction
IPA
GB/kənd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən/
US/kənd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən/
Syllables & stress
con - junc - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (junc)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conjunction
- Plural: conjunction, conjunctions
Word family
Expressions
a conjunction of circumstances
1/ə kənd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən əv sˈɚkəmstˌænsɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
combination of events or conditions
Several events or conditions that happen at the same time and together cause a result.
Examples
- A strange conjunction of circumstances led him to move abroad.
- Their victory was due to a lucky conjunction of circumstances rather than careful planning.
in close conjunction
1/ˈɪn klˈoʊs kənd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
very closely together
Happening or working very closely together, often in the same place or at the same time.
Examples
- The two departments operate in close conjunction on this project.
- These two factors work in close conjunction to influence the final result.
in conjunction with
1/ˈɪn kənd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
formal
together with; combined with
Together with something or someone; used or happening at the same time and for the same purpose as something else.
Examples
- The new policy was developed in conjunction with local community leaders.
- You should use this cream only in conjunction with the tablets your doctor prescribed.
- The study was carried out in conjunction with two major universities.