lockstep
noun
lock·step
ˈläk-ˌstep 
often attributive
1
: a mode of marching in step by a body of persons going one after another as closely as possible
2
: a standard method or procedure that is mindlessly adhered to or that minimizes individuality
Synonyms
Examples of lockstep in a Sentence
followed the lockstep that had been in his family for generations: prep school, Ivy League university, job on Wall Street
Recent Examples on the Web
Sketches and spec sheets depict an intricate beast with rattling gear columns towering 15 feet high, lever panels cranking in lockstep and thousands of moving parts churning together in a sort of steampunk orchestra.
—
Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 4 June 2024
Normally, the 13 root servers—each operated by a different entity—march in lockstep.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 23 May 2024
As a celebrity, Swift’s most remarkable gift is her ability to keep art and commerce, public life and private life, operating in lockstep.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 May 2024
That dynamic means Democrats may have to take the very rare step of giving Johnson a boost by backing a procedural move to bring the measure to the House floor, which the opposition party usually opposes in lockstep.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lockstep 
Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 4 June 2024
Normally, the 13 root servers—each operated by a different entity—march in lockstep.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 23 May 2024
As a celebrity, Swift’s most remarkable gift is her ability to keep art and commerce, public life and private life, operating in lockstep.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 May 2024
That dynamic means Democrats may have to take the very rare step of giving Johnson a boost by backing a procedural move to bring the measure to the House floor, which the opposition party usually opposes in lockstep.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lockstep
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lockstep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lockstep
Cite this Entry
“Lockstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockstep. Accessed 6 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lockstep
noun
lock·step
-ˌstep
: a way of marching in step in which the marchers are very close one behind the other
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share