jointly

Jointly is an adverb that describes actions undertaken by two or more parties in cooperation or shared responsibility. It indicates that the outcome results from a combined effort rather than from a single actor. Examples include: “The researchers published the findings jointly” and “The departments jointly funded the project.”

In legal and formal writing, jointly is often paired with severally in the phrase “jointly and severally.” This construction means that parties share liability together and individually, so each party may be held responsible for the full amount or for a portion, depending on context. The term helps allocate responsibility in agreements, contracts, and court decisions where multiple actors are involved.

Etymology-wise, jointly derives from the adjective joint, meaning connected or combined, with the suffix -ly forming an adverb. The root is linked to the idea of things being joined or brought together, with cognates in other Germanic and Romance languages.

Synonyms and related terms include collectively, in cooperation, in concert, and cooperatively. In contrast to separately or individually, jointly emphasizes shared action or shared accountability rather than independent or single-actor effort.

See also: joint, collaboration, partnership, collective liability, joint and several liability.