tandem

American  

[tan-duhm] / ˈtæn dəm /

adverb

1. one following or behind the other.

   to drive horses tandem.

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adjective

1. having animals, seats, parts, etc., arranged tandem or one behind another.

noun

1. a vehicle, as a truck, tractor, or trailer, in which a pair or pairs of axles are arranged in tandem.

2. tandem bicycle.

3. tandem trailer.

4. a team of horses harnessed one behind the other.

5. a two-wheeled carriage with a high driver's seat, drawn by two or more horses so harnessed.

6. any of various mechanisms having a tandem arrangement.

idioms

1. in tandem,

   1. in single file.

      They swam in tandem.

   2. in association or partnership.

tandem British  

/ ˈtændəm /

noun

1. a bicycle with two sets of pedals and two saddles, arranged one behind the other for two riders

2. a two-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses harnessed one behind the other

3. a team of two horses so harnessed

4. any arrangement of two things in which one is placed behind the other

5. together or in conjunction

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adjective

1. used as, used in, or routed through an intermediate automatic telephone exchange

   a tandem exchange

adverb

1. one behind the other

   to ride tandem

Etymology

Origin of tandem

First recorded in 1735–45; special use (originally facetious) of Latin tandem “at length, finally,” equivalent to tam “so far” + -dem, demonstrative suffix

Example Sentences

One big knock-on effect is an increase in interest rates, which usually rise in tandem with oil prices.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

Ackman recently filed to take public his hedge fund, Pershing Square, in tandem with a new investment fund.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Still, he remains bullish on U.S. equities, which the firm expects to rise in tandem with corporate earnings growth.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

The report called for a “safe sidewalks” public safety campaign to work in tandem with a plan to bring back retail tenants.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

The Federalist ticket featured Adams and Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina as a tandem.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• club
• company
• lineup
• organization
• party
• side
• squad
• unit