Combo Belongs to Jazz, Gaming and Fast Food
A combo is a combination. The word settled into three distinct fields, each with its own meaning of the same idea.
A combo is a combination, in informal English. The shortening arrived in 1920s jazz, where a combo was a small band as opposed to a big band, and it later settled into two more homes: a fast-food combo is a meal deal, and in fighting games a combo is a chain of attacks linked so the opponent cannot recover between them. The full word *combination* stays formal; *combo* never does.
- A combination. *An odd combo.*
- A small jazz band. *A four-piece combo.*
- A meal deal. *A burger combo.*
- A chain of attacks. *A five-hit combo.*
- Combination — the full word. *A winning combination.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | combo | A good combo. |
| Plural | combos | Two combos. |
| Full form | combination | A combination. |
| Verb | combine | Combine them. |
| Latin | combinare | To join two together. |
- The combo played until two.Jazz.
- I'll take the number three combo.Fast food.
- He landed a twelve-hit combo.Gaming.
Where combo means what
- Jazz — a small ensemble, typically three to eight players
- Fast food — a main item, side and drink sold together
- Fighting games — linked attacks with no chance to recover
- Amplifiers — a combo amp has speaker and amp in one cabinet
- General use — any pairing, informally
A shortening of *combination*, from Late Latin *combinationem*, from *combinare*, to join two by two, from *bini*, two together.
What is a combo in music?
A small jazz ensemble, usually three to eight players, as distinct from a big band.
Is combo formal English?
No. It is informal in every sense. Formal writing uses combination.