Join vs. Joint: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 12, 2023
Join refers to the action of connecting or putting together, while Joint denotes a connection between two parts or a place of meeting.
Key Differences
Join is an action verb that implies the act of coming or bringing together. When someone takes two separate things and makes them one, they are essentially joining them. For instance, you can join two pieces of wood with glue. On the other hand, Joint serves primarily as a noun and refers to the point or location at which two things are connected. A knee, for example, is a joint in the human body where two bones meet.
Join can also indicate becoming a member of a group or organization. Someone may join a club or a team, signifying their participation and inclusion in that collective. Joint, conversely, can describe something that is shared by or involves two or more parties. A joint bank account, for instance, is one that is shared by two or more individuals.
While Join is a verb of action, it suggests a unification process. You might join hands with someone, or join in a song. This process can be temporary or long-term. In contrast, Joint, when used as an adjective, describes something that is combined or united into one. A joint venture, for example, describes a business effort undertaken by two or more entities together.
It's crucial to understand the context in which both words are used. When someone wants to express the act of coming together or uniting, "join" would be the suitable word. But when referring to the connection point or something shared, "joint" is more apt.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Primarily noun, sometimes adjective
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Meaning
To connect or put together.
A connection or point where two or more things are joined.
Examples
Join a club, join two wires.
Knee joint, joint venture.
Associated Actions
Connecting, putting together, becoming a member.
Meeting, connecting, sharing.
Temporal Aspect
Can be temporary or long-term (based on context).
Often indicates a more permanent or fixed connection.
Join and Joint Definitions
Join
To connect or unite.
I will join the two ropes together.
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Joint
A point where two parts are connected.
He hurt his elbow joint.
Join
To come into contact or union with.
The rivers join before flowing into the sea.
Joint
Shared by or common to two or more.
They have a joint bank account.
Join
To participate or engage in.
May I join the conversation?
Joint
A place or part at which two or more things are joined.
Join
To combine for a specific purpose.
Let's join forces and tackle the problem together.
Joint
A way in which two or more things are joined
A mortise-and-tenon joint.
Join
To put or bring together so as to make continuous or form a unit
Join two boards with nails.
Joined hands in a circle.
Joint
A point of articulation between two or more bones, especially such a connection that allows motion.
Join
To put or bring into close association or relationship
Two families that were joined by marriage.
Join forces.
Joint
A point in the exoskeleton of an invertebrate at which movable parts join, as along the leg of an arthropod.
Join
To connect (points), as with a straight line.
Joint
(Botany) An articulation on a fruit or stem, such as the node of a grass stem.
Join
To meet and merge with
Where the creek joins the river.
Joint
(Geology) A fracture or crack in a rock mass along which no appreciable movement has occurred.
Join
To become a part or member of
Joined the photography club.
Joint
A large cut of meat for roasting.
Join
To come into the company of
Joined the group in the waiting room.
Joint
A cheap or disreputable gathering place
"The tavern is ... just a joint with Formica tables, a vinyl floor, lights over the mirrors" (Scott Turow).
Join
To participate with in an act or activity
The committee joins me in welcoming you.
Joint
A building or dwelling.
Join
To adjoin
Where the garage joins the house.
Joint
A prison. Often used with the.
Join
To engage in; enter into
Opposing armies joined battle on the plain.
Joint
(Slang) A marijuana cigarette.
Join
To come together so as to form a connection
Where the two bones join.
Joint
Vulgar Slang A penis.
Join
To act together; form an alliance
The two factions joined to oppose the measure.
Joint
Shared by or common to two or more
Our joint presence.
A joint income-tax return.
Join
To become a member of a group.
Joint
Sharing with another or others
A joint tenant.
Join
To take part; participate
Joined in the search.
Joint
Formed or characterized by cooperation or united action
Joint military maneuvers.
Join
A joint; a junction.
Joint
Involving both houses of a legislature
A joint session of Congress.
Join
An intersection of piping or wiring; an interconnect.
Joint
(Law) Regarded as one, especially with regard to tort liability or interest in property.
Join
An intersection of data in two or more database tables.
Joint
(Mathematics) Involving two or more variables.
Join
(computing) The act of joining something, such as a network.
Joint
To combine or attach with a joint or joints
Securely jointed the sides of the drawer.
Join
(algebra) The lowest upper bound, an operation between pairs of elements in a lattice, denoted by the symbol ∨.
Joint
To provide or construct with joints
Joint a boom on a crane.
Join
(transitive) To connect or combine into one; to put together.
The plumber joined the two ends of the broken pipe.
We joined our efforts to get an even better result.
Joint
To separate (meat) at the joints.
Join
(intransitive) To come together; to meet.
Parallel lines never join.
These two rivers join in about 80 miles.
Joint
Done by two or more people or organisations working together.
The play was a joint production between the two companies.
Join
(intransitive) To enter into association or alliance, to unite in a common purpose.
Joint
The point where two components of a structure join, but are still able to rotate.
This rod is free to swing at the joint with the platform.
Join
(transitive) To come into the company of.
I will join you watching the football game as soon as I have finished my work.
Joint
The point where two components of a structure join rigidly.
The water is leaking out of the joint between the two pipes.
Join
(transitive) To become a member of.
Many children join a sports club.
Most politicians have joined a party.
Joint
(anatomy) Any part of the body where two bones join, in most cases allowing that part of the body to be bent or straightened.
Join
To produce an intersection of data in two or more database tables.
By joining the Customer table on the Product table, we can show each customer's name alongside the products they have ordered.
Joint
The means of securing together the meeting surfaces of components of a structure.
The dovetail joint, while more difficult to make, is also quite strong.
Join
To unite in marriage.
Joint
A cut of meat, especially (but not necessarily) (a) one containing a joint in the sense of an articulation or (b) one rolled up and tied.
Set the joint in a roasting tin and roast for the calculated cooking time.
Join
To enjoin upon; to command.
Joint
The part or space included between two joints, knots, nodes, or articulations.
A joint of cane or of a grass stem; a joint of the leg
Join
To accept, or engage in, as a contest.
To join encounter, battle, or issue
Joint
(geology) A fracture in which the strata are not offset; a geologic joint.
Join
To bring together, literally or figuratively; to place in contact; to connect; to couple; to unite; to combine; to associate; to add; to append.
Woe unto them that join house to house.
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burnLike twenty torches joined.
Thy tuneful voice with numbers join.
Joint
A place of business, particularly in the food service or hospitality industries.
It was the kind of joint you wouldn't want your boss to see you in.
Join
To associate one's self to; to be or become connected with; to league one's self with; to unite with; as, to join a party; to join the church.
We jointly now to join no other head.
Joint
A place of resort for tramps.
Join
To unite in marriage.
He that joineth his virgin in matrimony.
What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Joint
An opium den.
Join
To enjoin upon; to command.
They join them penance, as they call it.
Joint
Prison.
I'm just trying to stay out of the joint.
Join
To accept, or engage in, as a contest; as, to join encounter, battle, issue.
Joint
(slang) A marijuana cigarette.
After locking the door and closing the shades, they lit the joint.
Join
To meet with and accompany; as, we joined them at the restaurant.
Joint
A syringe used to inject an illicit drug.
Join
To combine with (another person) in performing some activity; as, join me in welcoming our new president.
Joint
The penis.
Join
To be contiguous, close, or in contact; to come together; to unite; to mingle; to form a union; as, the bones of the skull join; two rivers join.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations?
Nature and fortune joined to make thee great.
Joint
Sense}} A thing.
A Spike Lee joint
Join
The line joining two points; the point common to two intersecting lines.
Joint
(transitive) To unite by a joint or joints; to fit together; to prepare so as to fit together
To joint boards
A jointing plane
Join
The place or part where objects have been joined; a joint; a seam.
Joint
(transitive) To join; to connect; to unite; to combine.
Join
The combining of multiple tables to answer a query in a relational database system.
Joint
(transitive) To provide with a joint or joints; to articulate.
Join
The shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made
Joint
(transitive) To separate the joints; of; to divide at the joint or joints; to disjoint; to cut up into joints, as meat.
Join
A set containing all and only the members of two or more given sets;
Let C be the union of the sets A and B
Joint
(intransitive) To fit as if by joints; to coalesce as joints do.
The stones joint, neatly.
Join
Become part of; become a member of a group or organization;
He joined the Communist Party as a young man
Joint
The place or part where two things or parts are joined or united; the union of two or more smooth or even surfaces admitting of a close-fitting or junction; junction; as, a joint between two pieces of timber; a joint in a pipe.
Join
Cause to become joined or linked;
Join these two parts so that they fit together
Joint
A joining of two things or parts so as to admit of motion; an articulation, whether movable or not; a hinge; as, the knee joint; a node or joint of a stem; a ball and socket joint. See Articulation.
A scaly gauntlet now, with joints of steel,Must glove this hand.
To tear thee joint by joint.
Join
Come into the company of;
She joined him for a drink
Joint
The part or space included between two joints, knots, nodes, or articulations; as, a joint of cane or of a grass stem; a joint of the leg.
Join
Make contact or come together;
The two roads join here
Joint
Any one of the large pieces of meat, as cut into portions by the butcher for roasting.
Join
Be or become joined or united or linked;
The two streets connect to become a highway
Our paths joined
The travelers linked up again at the airport
Joint
A plane of fracture, or divisional plane, of a rock transverse to the stratification.
Join
To become a member of.
He decided to join the army.
Joint
The space between the adjacent surfaces of two bodies joined and held together, as by means of cement, mortar, etc.; as, a thin joint.
Joint
The means whereby the meeting surfaces of pieces in a structure are secured together.
Joint
A projecting or retreating part in something; any irregularity of line or surface, as in a wall.
Joint
A narrow piece of scenery used to join together two flats or wings of an interior setting.
Joint
A disreputable establishment, or a place of low resort, as for smoking opium; - also used for a commercial establishment, implying a less than impeccable reputation, but often in jest; as, talking about a high-class joint is an oxymoron.
Joint
A marijuana cigarette.
Joint
Prison; - used with "the".
Joint
Joined; united; combined; concerted; as, joint action.
Joint
Involving the united activity of two or more; done or produced by two or more working together.
I read this joint effusion twice over.
Joint
United, joined, or sharing with another or with others; not solitary in interest or action; holding in common with an associate, or with associates; acting together; as, joint heir; joint creditor; a joint bank account; joint debtor, etc.
Joint
Shared by, or affecting two or more; held in common; as, joint property; a joint bond.
A joint burden laid upon us all.
Joint
To unite by a joint or joints; to fit together; to prepare so as to fit together; as, to joint boards.
Pierced through the yielding planks of jointed wood.
Joint
To join; to connect; to unite; to combine.
Jointing their force 'gainst Cæsar.
Joint
To provide with a joint or joints; to articulate.
The fingers are jointed together for motion.
Joint
To separate the joints; of; to divide at the joint or joints; to disjoint; to cut up into joints, as meat.
Quartering, jointing, seething, and roasting.
Joint
To fit as if by joints; to coalesce as joints do; as, the stones joint, neatly.
Joint
(anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if the articulation allows motion)
Joint
A disreputable place of entertainment
Joint
The shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made
Joint
A piece of meat roasted or for roasting and of a size for slicing into more than one portion
Joint
Junction by which parts or objects are joined together
Joint
Marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking
Joint
Fit as if by joints;
The boards fit neatly
Joint
Provide with a joint;
The carpenter jointed two pieces of wood
Joint
Fasten with a joint
Joint
Separate (meat) at the joint
Joint
United or combined;
A joint session of Congress
Joint owners
Joint
Affecting or involving two or more;
Joint income-tax return
Joint ownership
Joint
Involving both houses of a legislature;
A joint session of Congress
Joint
Relating to both elements in a dual arrangement.
A joint statement was issued by the leaders.
Joint
A place or part where two things or parts are joined.
The joint between two wooden planks.
Joint
A large piece of meat for roasting.
She cooked a beef joint for dinner.
FAQs
Can "Join" indicate becoming a member of something?
Yes, "Join" can mean becoming a member of a group, organization, or activity.
Is "Join" only used in the context of physical connection?
No, "Join" can also be used metaphorically, as in joining a cause or an idea.
What is the primary part of speech for "Join"?
"Join" is primarily used as a verb.
What does "Joint" mainly refer to in the context of human anatomy?
In anatomy, "Joint" refers to the place where two bones connect.
How does the term "Joint venture" relate to business?
A "Joint venture" refers to a business agreement where parties agree to work together for a particular purpose.
Is "Joint" used to describe a type of marijuana cigarette?
Yes, in slang, a "Joint" can refer to a marijuana cigarette.
When I attach two things together, can I say I've joined them?
Yes, if you've connected two things, you've "joined" them.
Is a "Joint statement" issued by one individual?
No, a "Joint statement" typically comes from two or more parties expressing a shared viewpoint.
What does it mean when an account is described as "Joint"?
A "Joint" account means it's shared by two or more individuals.
Can "Join" be used in the context of social activities?
Yes, one can "Join" a party, a conversation, or a game, indicating participation.
Can you "Join" a software application to another system?
Yes, in tech contexts, "Join" might refer to connecting or integrating one application with another system.
If a decision is made by two people together, is it a "Joint decision"?
Yes, a decision made collaboratively by two or more parties can be called a "Joint decision."
If I'm going to "Join" a team, what am I doing?
If you're going to "Join" a team, you are becoming a member or participant of that team.
Is the phrase "Out of joint" related to being disconnected?
Yes, "Out of joint" is an idiom meaning something is dislocated or not functioning correctly.
What does "Joint custody" refer to?
"Joint custody" refers to an arrangement where both parents share legal and/or physical custody of their child.
What's the opposite of "Join" in terms of separation?
The opposite action of "Join" could be "Separate" or "Disconnect."
Can "Join" refer to a meeting point of two things?
Yes, for example, two roads can "Join" at an intersection.
What does it mean to "Join hands"?
To "Join hands" means to physically hold hands or to collaborate and work together on something.
How is "Joint" used in carpentry?
In carpentry, a "Joint" refers to the point where two pieces of wood are connected.
What does it mean when something is "Jointly owned"?
"Jointly owned" means an asset or property is owned by two or more parties together.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
