What does dovetailing mean?
Dovetailing refers to the act of fitting separate elements together so precisely that they interlock or blend without gaps — much like the interlocking joint in woodworking from which the word takes its name. In everyday use it most often describes the harmonious combination of plans, schedules, ideas, or interests: one might speak of the dovetailing of two departments' efforts, or of dovetailing a career with family commitments. The word carries a positive connotation, suggesting skill, efficiency, and elegant coordination rather than mere coexistence. It appears frequently in business writing, project management, and descriptions of craftsmanship. Because it implies both precision and mutual reinforcement, dovetailing is a useful alternative to vaguer terms like combining or coordinating when you want to emphasize how neatly distinct parts come together into a seamless whole.
nounThe act or process of fitting things together neatly and precisely, especially so that they interlock; in scheduling, the arrangement of two or more activities so they occupy the same time slot without conflict.
- The act of fitting together precisely, as in woodworking joints or plans that mesh seamlessly.
- Scheduling two or more activities in overlapping time slots so both can be accomplished.
"Her careful dovetailing of work and study left no room for wasted hours."
"The dovetailing of the two committees' agendas avoided any duplication of effort."
"Skilled at dovetailing meetings with travel, she made every hour count."
Carpenters named it after the shape of a dove's tail — a joint so strong it holds without glue or nails.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dovetailing
Dovetailing derives from the noun 'dovetail', first used in English in the early 17th century to describe a woodworking joint whose flared, fan-shaped tenon resembles a dove's tail. The verb 'to dovetail' arose shortly afterward, meaning to join with such a joint, and by the 18th century it had acquired its figurative sense of fitting things together neatly. The word is a compound of 'dove' (Old English 'dūfe') and 'tail' (Old English 'tægl'), both of Germanic origin.
How dovetailing is actually used
Often used figuratively for plans, ideas, or schedules that fit together smoothly; common in formal and business registers.
Easily confused with dovetailing
Tailgating means following too closely behind a vehicle, whereas dovetailing means fitting things together precisely.