Joint — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈjȯint/

Meaning & Definition of Joint

Joint (noun)

  1. the point of contact between elements of an animal skeleton with the parts that surround and support it
  2. node
  3. a part or space included between two articulations, knots, or nodes

Joint (adjective)

  1. united, combined
  2. common to two or more
  3. involving the united activity of two or more

Joint (verb)

  1. to unite by a joint, fit together
  2. to provide with a joint, articulate
  3. to prepare (something, such as a board) for joining by planing the edge

Joint (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. used or done by a number of people as a group

    "a joint effort by residents of the neighborhood to help reduce crime"

    similar: collaborative, collective, combined, common, communal, concerted, conjoint, conjunct, cooperative, multiple, mutual, pooled, public, shared, united
    related: bilateral, consensual, reciprocal, symbiotic, synergic, synergistic, two-way, mass, popular, general, generic, universal
    opposite: exclusive, individual, one-man, one-sided, one-way, single, sole, solitary, unilateral
    near: personal, private, independent, separate, several, esoteric, particular, special, specialized

Joint (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a place where two or more things are united

    "the leak was found at a joint in the pipe"

    similar: connection, coupling, join, joining, jointure, junction, juncture
    related: link, nexus, tie, interconnection, intersection, abutment, articulation, attachment, seam, suture, concourse, confluence, meeting, union
    near: cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, gap, rift, separation

  2. a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by a service business

    "let's go to the local burger joint"

    similar: establishment, parlor, place, salon
    related: spot, station, facility, installation, club, house, den, dive, hole

  3. a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody

    "violate your probation and you'll be back in the joint in short order, loser"

    similar: bastille, big house (slang), bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, clink (slang), cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jail, jailhouse, jug, lockup, nick (British slang), pen, penitentiary, pokey (slang), prison, quod (British slang), slam, slammer, stir (slang), stockade, tolbooth (Scottish)
    related: bull pen, cage, cell, hole, tank, block, ward, glasshouse (British), guardhouse, hulk(s), concentration camp, gulag, labor camp, prison camp, stalag, work camp, dungeon, keep, oubliette, reformatory, reform school, training school
    near: outside

Related Entry: Out of joint (phrase)

Out of joint is a different word from Joint. The synonyms below are for out of joint, not for joint.

  1. having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions

    "He was feeling out of joint after several job rejections."

    similar: aggrieved, discontent, discontented, disgruntled, displeased, dissatisfied, malcontent
    related: disappointed, disenchanted, disillusioned, frustrated, unfulfilled, disquieted, disturbed, perturbed, upset, dejected, depressed, despairing, despondent, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, hangdog, inconsolable, joyless, low-spirited, miserable, mournful, sad, sorrowful, unhappy
    opposite: content, contented, gratified, pleased, satisfied
    near: blissful, delighted, glad, happy, joyful, joyous, elated, exultant, jubilant, triumphant

  2. lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness

    "Her bedroom was always out of joint."

    similar: chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled, disordered, disorderly, higgledy-piggledy, hugger-mugger, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, pell-mell, rumpled, sloppy, topsy-turvy, tousled, tumbled, unkempt, untidy, upside-down, at sixes and sevens
    related: bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty (chiefly British), grubby, grungy, mucky, nasty, smudged, soiled, spotted, squalid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly, dowdy, frowsy, shaggy, slatternly, sloven, slovenly, uncombed, wrinkled, adulterated, contaminated, defiled, polluted, tainted, knotted, snarled, tangled, seedy, shabby, sleazy, sordid, neglected, neglectful, negligent
    opposite: bandbox, crisp, kempt, neat, neatened, ordered, orderly, organized, shipshape, snug, tidied, tidy, trim, uncluttered, well-ordered
    near: antiseptic, clean, cleaned, cleanly, hygienic, immaculate, sparkling, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied, methodical, regular, systematic, systematized, careful, fastidious, finicky, fussy, meticulous, combed, groomed, manicured, well-groomed, taintless, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, wholesome

Related Entry: Clip joint (noun)

Clip joint is a different word from Joint. The synonyms below are for clip joint, not for joint.

  1. as in dive, key club

    similar: dive, honky-tonk, key club, speakeasy, barroom, pub (chiefly British), public house (chiefly British), saloon, tavern, canteen, watering hole, watering place, a-go-go, disco, discotheque, bistro, boîte, cabaret, café, club, nightclub, nightspot, nitery, roadhouse, supper club

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Joint

The most common words with a similar meaning to Joint:

Slang: big house, clink, pokey, stir
British slang: nick, quod
Scottish: tolbooth
collaborative, collective, combined, common, communal, concerted, conjoint, conjunct, cooperative, multiple, mutual, pooled, public, shared, united, connection, coupling, join, joining, jointure, junction, juncture, establishment, parlor, place, salon, bastille, bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jail, jailhouse, jug

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Joint

Words with the opposite meaning of Joint:

exclusive, individual, one-man, one-sided, one-way, single, sole, solitary, unilateral

Related Words for Joint

bilateral, consensual, reciprocal, symbiotic, synergic, synergistic, two-way, mass, popular, general, generic, universal, link, nexus, tie, interconnection, intersection, abutment, articulation, attachment, seam, suture, concourse, confluence, meeting, union, spot, station, facility, installation

Near Antonyms of Joint

personal, private, independent, separate, several, esoteric, particular, special, specialized, cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, gap, rift, separation, outside

Word Forms of Joint

Inflections: joints, jointed, jointing

Derived words: jointed (adjective), jointedly (adverb), jointedness (noun), jointly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Joint

Middle English joint, jointe, borrowed from Anglo-French jointe, noun derivative from feminine of joint, past participle of joindre "to join:1"

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Joint

Words & Phrases Containing Joint

Joint Chiefs of Staff, joint compound, joint resolution, joint-stock company, joint account, joint custody, ball-and-socket joint

Frequently Asked Questions about Joint

What does "Joint" mean?

"Joint" means the point of contact between elements of an animal skeleton with the parts that surround and support it. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: the point of contact between elements of an animal skeleton with the parts that surround and support it. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Joint"?

Other words for "Joint" include collaborative, collective, combined, common, communal, concerted, conjoint and conjunct. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Joint" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Joint"?

There are 110 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Joint". Common alternatives include collaborative, collective, combined, common, communal, concerted, conjoint, conjunct, cooperative and multiple.

What is a slang word for "Joint"?

Slang words for "Joint" include big house, clink, pokey, stir, nick and quod.

What is the opposite of "Joint"?

Antonyms of "Joint" include exclusive, individual, one-man, one-sided, one-way, single, sole and solitary. Near antonyms include personal, private, independent and separate.

How do you use "Joint" in a sentence?

Examples of "Joint" in a sentence: "a joint effort by residents of the neighborhood to help reduce crime"; "the leak was found at a joint in the pipe"; "let's go to the local burger joint".

Is "Joint" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Joint" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Joint" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Joint" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.