Basic Details
Word: Synchronisation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Making two or more things happen at exactly the same time or speed, such as music and dance steps, or clocks set to match.
Synonyms: coordination, timing
Word origin: From Greek syn, together, and khronos, time.
How to Spell Synchronisation
Syllables: syn - chro - ni - sa - tion
Tricky part: The k sound in the middle is spelt ch, and the first vowel is a y. The word is long, so letters tend to get doubled or dropped near -isation.
Watch out for: syncronisation, sinchronisation, synchronisasion
Memory tip: Split it into three Greek-looking chunks: syn (together) + chron (time, as in chronology) + isation. If you can spell chronology, you already have the hard middle.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The Republic Day march-past is famous for the perfect synchronisation of every contingent.
Example 2: Our film club project failed because the sound and the picture lost synchronisation halfway through.
Example 3: Good synchronisation between the drummer and the dancers made the Bihu performance come alive.
Fun Fact
The Olympic sport long called synchronised swimming was renamed artistic swimming by its world governing body in 2017.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
synchronissation
a) s
b) n
c) i
d) o
Show answer
a) s. The ending is -isation, like organisation, with one s; the second s has crept in.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word synchronisation as used in the sentence:
The rowers' synchronisation was so good that their eight oars hit the water as one.
a) coordination
b) confusion
c) hesitation
d) isolation
Show answer
a) coordination. Oars hitting the water together show coordination; confusion and hesitation describe a crew falling out of step.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The nhcsoinyrtsoian of the traffic lights on the main road keeps the cars moving smoothly.
a) synchronising
b) synchronised
c) synchronisation
d) synchronicity
Show answer
c) synchronisation. All four share synchron, so look at the rest: synchronicity needs a second y, synchronising a g and synchronised a d, while the jumble has an a, a t and three n's.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In a film, poor synchronisation of sound and picture means ____.
a) the tickets cost too much
b) the screen is much too dark
c) the lips move out of step with the words
d) the film is far too long
Show answer
c) the lips move out of step with the words
2. Which activity depends most on synchronisation?
a) one person reading quietly
b) a cat sleeping in the sun
c) a group of swimmers moving in time
d) a letter waiting in a postbox
Show answer
c) a group of swimmers moving in time
