Standard Lemma guide

win-win

adj · noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌwɪnˈwɪn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪn
  • CMU ARPABET: W IH2 N W IH1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

That benefits both or all parties, or that has two distinct benefits.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • win-win outcome
  • win-win situation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: lose-lose

2

noun

Meaning 2

Ellipsis of win-win situation: A situation that benefits both or all parties, or that has two distinct benefits.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

Examples

  • They got their school project funded, and you got to look like a generous benefactor, plus some free advertising. It's a win-win.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: lose-lose

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: nə şiş yansın, nə də kabab — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Chinese Mandarin: 雙贏 /双赢 (shuāngyíng) — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Danish: win-win-situation — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Dutch: win-win — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Finnish: molempia hyödyttävä — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Finnish: win-win — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • French: gagnant-gagnant — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • German: zum beiderseitigen Vorteil — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • German: Doppelsieg — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • German: Win-Win — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Greek: όλοι κερδισμένοι (óloi kerdisménoi) — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Hungarian: mindkét fél számára előnyös/kedvező/nyerő — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Hungarian: win-win — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Norwegian Bokmål: vinn-vinn — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: vinn-vinn — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Polish: wilk syty i owca cała — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Portuguese: em que todos saem ganhando — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Portuguese: em que todos ganham — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Russian: беспро́игрышный (bespróigryšnyj) — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Russian: взаимовы́годный (vzaimovýgodnyj) — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Spanish: en donde todos ganan — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Spanish: en donde todos salen ganando — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Spanish: en donde todos ganamos — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Spanish: en donde todos salimos ganando — of a situation that benefits two parties
  • Azerbaijani: nə şiş yansın, də nə kabab — situation that benefits both parties
  • Chinese Mandarin: 雙贏局面 /双赢局面 (shuāngyíng júmiàn) — situation that benefits both parties
  • Finnish: yhteisvoitto — situation that benefits both parties
  • Finnish: win-win-tilanne — situation that benefits both parties
  • Hungarian: mindkét fél számára előnyös helyzet — situation that benefits both parties
  • Polish: wilk syty i owca cała — situation that benefits both parties
  • Spanish: situación en donde todos ganan — situation that benefits both parties
  • Spanish: situación en donde todos salen ganando — situation that benefits both parties
  • Spanish: situación en donde todos ganamos — situation that benefits both parties
  • Spanish: situación en donde todos salimos ganando — situation that benefits both parties
  • Telugu: తునితగవు (tunitagavu) — situation that benefits both parties