lockstep: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, often used in analytical or critical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “lockstep” mean?
A way of marching in which soldiers walk very close together, each moving the same leg at the same time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A way of marching in which soldiers walk very close together, each moving the same leg at the same time.
A rigidly inflexible pattern or process where things move or progress in perfect unison, without deviation or independent thought.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in American political and economic commentary.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties, implying mindless conformity.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but stable in specific domains like politics, economics, and military analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “lockstep” in a Sentence
be in lockstep with [NP]march in lockstepkeep [NP] in lockstep with [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lockstep” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The committee attempted to lockstep their recommendations with the government's white paper.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The senator argued against lockstepping our foreign policy with that of a single ally.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare) The teams progressed lockstep through the tournament stages.
American English
- (Extremely rare) Their fortunes rose lockstep for over a decade.
adjective
British English
- The party's lockstep discipline left no room for backbench dissent.
American English
- The two economies showed a lockstep correlation throughout the crisis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe markets or companies moving together without independent strategy, e.g., 'The two competitors' pricing moved in lockstep.'
Academic
Used in political science, sociology, and economics to describe groupthink or coordinated policy. e.g., 'The party members voted in lockstep.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used to describe friends who always do everything together without independent thought.
Technical
In computing, can describe tightly coupled processes. In military science, refers to the literal marching formation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lockstep”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lockstep”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lockstep”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They lockstepped their policies'). It is almost exclusively a noun.
- Using it in a positive sense. It is nearly always critical or descriptive of a negative lack of freedom.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely. Its core meaning involves rigid, unthinking conformity, which is typically viewed negatively. A possible positive use might be in technical contexts praising perfect synchronization, but this is uncommon.
It is standardly written as one word: 'lockstep'. The hyphenated form 'lock-step' is an older variant that is now less common.
The most common pattern is the prepositional phrase 'in lockstep with' followed by a noun phrase, e.g., 'in lockstep with market expectations'.
No. While often used for groups of people (soldiers, politicians, organisations), it is also commonly used for abstract entities like economies, markets, policies, or ideas that move or change together in a tightly linked way.
A way of marching in which soldiers walk very close together, each moving the same leg at the same time.
Lockstep is usually formal, often used in analytical or critical contexts. in register.
Lockstep: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɒkstep/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɑːkstep/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “march in lockstep”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LOCK that forces two STEPs to move together perfectly. If they're locked in step, they can't move independently.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING/ACTING IS MARCHING. Conformity is moving in a rigid, pre-set formation.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lockstep' MOST likely to be used critically?