zipper merge

noun

A convention for merging traffic into a reduced number of lanes, where drivers use both lanes to advance to the lane reduction point and merge at that location, alternating turns.

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Meanings

nounzipper merge (plural zipper merges)

plural zipper merges

  1. A convention for merging traffic into a reduced number of lanes, where drivers use both lanes to advance to the lane reduction point and merge at that location, alternating turns.
verbzipper merge (third-person singular simple present zipper merges, present participle zipper merging, simple past and past participle zipper merged)

present singular third person zipper merges · participle present zipper merging · participle past zipper merged · past zipper merged

  1. To carry out this form of traffic merging.

Origin

From the resemblance to the closing of a zip fastener, where alternating teeth are brought into line.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

zipper merge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zipper%20merge

MLA

“zipper merge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zipper%20merge. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zipper merge,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zipper%20merge.

Source: zipper merge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.