twinning

5 synonyms for twinning, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A formal link between a town or city in one country and one in another, set up to encourage cultural and business exchange.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

partnership

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

pairing matching coupling

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sister-city arrangement

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A formal link between a town or city in one country and one in another, set up to encourage cultural and business exchange.

“The twinning with Sarrebourg has run since 1963 and includes an annual student exchange.”

sister-city arrangement partnership pairing

2. verb informal in the matching-outfit sense

Present participle of twin: to pair two things or places together, or to dress or appear identically to someone else.

“We're twinning today in our matching yellow raincoats.”

matching pairing coupling

How to use twinning

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

town twinning twinning agreement twinning rates we're twinning

The civic sense is formal; the matching-outfit sense is playful and common among friends and on social media.

Etymology

Formed from twin and -ing.

Full origin of twinning →

Frequently asked questions

What does twinning mean when people say it about clothes?

It means two people are wearing the same or very similar outfits, usually on purpose and usually said with delight. 'We're twinning!' is a compliment, not a complaint.

What is the difference between town twinning and a sister city?

They are the same idea under different names. 'Twinning' and 'twin town' are the usual British and European terms, while 'sister city' is standard in the United States and much of Asia.

What causes twinning in births?

Identical twinning happens when a single fertilised egg splits, and its rate is roughly constant worldwide. Non-identical twinning happens when two eggs are released at once, and is influenced by maternal age, family history and fertility treatment.

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partnership matching pairing coupling

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