combination

combination — noun

1. A result, substance, or situation created by joining two or more different eleme

1.nounB2
Definition

A result, substance, or situation created by joining two or more different elements, qualities, or ingredients together.

Example

A combination of skill, patience, and luck helped Ravi win the chess tournament.

countable: a combination of + abstract nouns

The doctor recommended a combination of rest and light exercise for a full recovery.

collocation: recommend / prescribe a combination of

Common collocations
  • combination of factors
  • combination of ingredients
  • combination of skills
  • in combination with
Synonyms
  • mixture

    more general — any substance made by mixing; 'combination' suggests deliberate or designed joining

  • blend

    suggests smooth, thorough mixing; often used for flavours, colours, or personalities

  • mix

    informal; a casual combination without implying design

  • compound

    more technical; a substance whose parts are chemically bonded

Antonyms
  • separation

    the opposite state or action of keeping things apart

  • division

    the act of splitting into parts

Grammar Patterns

combination of + nouns

a combination of + noun phrase

in combination (with)

Usage Note

As a countable noun (a combination) it refers to a specific result or mixture. As an uncountable noun (by combination, through combination) it describes the process or method of combining. Countable use is far more frequent in everyday English.

Common Mistakes

The combination of the two ingredients create a new flavour.
The combination of the two ingredients creates a new flavour.
'combination' is singular, so the verb must be 'creates' not 'create'.

2. A group of items arranged in a specific order, where changing the order creates

2.nounB2
Definition

A group of items arranged in a specific order, where changing the order creates a different result.

Example

Yusuf rearranged the letters in every possible combination until the word "garden" finally appeared.

rearranged + every possible combination — exhaustive search of orderings

Chess players study thousands of different combinations of moves before a match.

combination of moves — countable, with numbers

Common collocations
  • different combinations
  • possible combinations
  • right combination
  • correct combination
Synonyms
  • arrangement

    broader — any ordering; 'combination' implies intent to achieve a specific outcome

  • sequence

    focuses on the linear order; often used for numbers or events

  • permutation

    formal mathematical term; each distinct ordering of a set

Grammar Patterns

combination of + plural nouns

every possible combination

different combinations of + nouns

Usage Note

Countable only. Emphasises the ordering of elements — the same ingredients in a different order count as a different combination. Common in maths, puzzles, cooking, and design contexts.

Common Mistakes

I need to find a combination of numbers who opens the lock.
I need to find a combination of numbers that opens the lock.
Use 'that' (not 'who') for non-human things.

3. A secret code made up of digits or characters, entered in a fixed order to unloc

3.nounB2
Definition

A secret code made up of digits or characters, entered in a fixed order to unlock a safe, a lock, or another security device.

Example

I forgot the combination to my gym locker and called the front desk for help.

preposition: combination to [something]

The bank manager keeps the vault combination inside a sealed envelope.

Common collocations
  • forget the combination
  • enter the combination
  • change the combination
  • combination lock
  • vault combination
Synonyms
  • code

    broader — can be numbers or colours; 'combination' is specific to locks

  • PIN

    for digital keypads; 'combination' is for mechanical dial locks

  • passcode

    modern term for electronic locks and devices

Grammar Patterns

combination to + lock type

combination for + device

enter / dial / change / forget a combination

Usage Note

Countable only. A combination lock uses a dial; modern keypads use a 'PIN' or 'passcode', not a combination. The typical preposition is 'to' (the combination to a safe) or 'on' (the combination on a lock).

Common Mistakes

I forgot the combination for my phone.
I forgot the passcode for my phone.
Phones and apps use passcodes or PINs; 'combination' is for physical dial locks.

Word family

  • combine
    verbB1
  • combined
    adjectiveB2
  • combining
    adjectiveC1
  • recombine
    verbC1
  • combinable
    adjectiveC2
  • combinational
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe the result of bringing separate things together, but they differ in register and connotation. Mixture is the most general term — any substance or set of things combined without necessarily implying design (a mixture of rain and snow). Blend suggests a more intentional, smooth integration, especially for flavours, colours, or personalities (a blend of traditional and modern styles). Mix is the most informal and versatile — common in everyday speech (a good mix of people at the party). Compound is the most technical: a substance whose elements are chemically or systematically bonded (a chemical compound; a compound interest rate). For everyday use, combination and mixture work in most contexts, while blend carries a positive sense of harmony, and compound belongs in specialised writing.

mixture ↗blend ↗mix ↗compound ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • combination lock
  • combination therapy
  • combination ticket
  • combination deal
  • combination pizza

Adverbs

  • in combination
  • in combination with

Phrases

  • in combination with something
  • a combination of factors
  • a combination of things

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Combination comes from Latin combinare, which means 'to join two together' — formed from com- ('together') and bini ('two by two'). It entered English through Old French in the 1300s. The original meaning was the act of uniting two things into one. The lock-code sense developed in the 1800s when mechanical locks with rotating dials became common.