comingle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, often used in legal, financial, technical, or academic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “comingle” mean?
To mix or blend different things together, especially in a way that makes them difficult to separate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To mix or blend different things together, especially in a way that makes them difficult to separate.
1) To combine or merge different elements, substances, funds, or populations. 2) To cause to become mixed or mingled. 3) (Of funds) To combine assets from different origins, potentially causing a loss of legal distinction. 4) (Social) For people from different groups to associate or intermingle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both spellings ('commingle' and 'comingle') are understood in both regions. However, 'commingle' is more prevalent in formal, legal, and financial writing, especially in the US. The variant 'comingle' is common in informal and everyday use. There is no significant dialectal difference in meaning or connotation.
Connotations
Neutral to formal. In financial/legal contexts, it can carry a negative connotation of improper mixing (e.g., client funds with company funds). In social contexts, it is often positive, suggesting integration.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. More likely to be encountered in professional writing than in casual speech. The spelling 'commingle' is more frequent in edited text.
Grammar
How to Use “comingle” in a Sentence
[NP] comingles [with NP][NP] is comingled [with NP][NP] comingles [NP] (and NP)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “comingle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It is legally prohibited to comingle client money with the firm's own assets.
- Various cultural influences comingled to create the unique character of the city.
- The dye comingled with the water, creating a vibrant solution.
American English
- The new policy encourages employees from different divisions to comingle during lunch breaks.
- The trustee was accused of comingling estate funds for personal use.
- In the novel, reality and fantasy comingle seamlessly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Auditors flagged the company for comingling client escrow funds with its operating capital, a serious compliance breach.
Academic
The study examines how immigrant identities comingle with local cultural practices over generations.
Everyday
At the party, guests from all departments started to comingle naturally after a few icebreakers.
Technical
The experiment failed because the two reagents comingled prematurely, triggering an uncontrolled reaction.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “comingle”
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “comingle”
- Confusing spelling with 'commingle' (both are correct, but 'commingle' is standard in formal writing).
- Using it where a simpler word like 'mix' or 'mingle' would suffice, making speech sound overly formal.
- Incorrect: 'The colors comingled together.' (Redundant 'together'). Correct: 'The colors comingled.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Mingle' often suggests a lighter, more social mixing where individuals or elements remain somewhat distinct (e.g., guests mingling at a party). 'Comingle' implies a deeper, more thorough, or more significant blending, often resulting in a loss of separate identity, and is used in more formal or technical contexts (e.g., comingling funds).
Yes, it is a widely accepted variant. However, 'commingle' (with two 'm's) is the original and more standard spelling, especially in formal, legal, and financial writing. Many style guides recommend 'commingle'.
Yes. It can be used for physical substances (liquids, materials), abstract concepts (ideas, cultures), funds, and groups of people. For people, it often carries a formal or literary tone.
It can be used both ways. Transitive: "The chef comingled the ingredients." Intransitive: "The ingredients comingled slowly." It is often used in the passive voice: "The funds were comingled."
To mix or blend different things together, especially in a way that makes them difficult to separate.
Comingle is usually formal, often used in legal, financial, technical, or academic contexts. in register.
Comingle: in British English it is pronounced /kə(ʊ)ˈmɪŋɡ(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈmɪŋɡ(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COMING' together and getting 'MINGLED' (like at a party) = COMINGLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLENDING IS MIXING LIQUIDS (funds comingle like water and wine); SOCIAL INTEGRATION IS PHYSICAL MIXING (groups comingle like ingredients in a bowl).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'comingle' MOST appropriate and precise?