coherence

noun

co·​her·​ence kō-ˈhir-ən(t)s  -ˈher- 

1

: the quality or state of cohering: such as

a

: systematic or logical connection or consistency

The essay as a whole lacks coherence.

b

: integration of diverse elements, relationships, or values

"The various parts of this house—discrete in color, in shape, in placement—join together with remarkable coherence."

—Paul Goldberger

2

: the property of being coherent

a plan that lacks coherence

Synonyms of coherence

• symmetry
• orchestration
• proportion
• correlation
• harmony
• unity

Examples of coherence in a Sentence

the house has been expanded and remodeled so many times that now it's a jumbled mess that lacks coherence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tonal coherence of Widow’s Bay depends to a large extent on Rhys, on his ability to ride the current between goofy startlement and raw terror. — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Inconsistency lowers the model’s confidence; coherence raises it. — Hastimal Jangid, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Each will require a Democratic Party more or less at peace with itself, and one that recognizes its need for both some coherence and some flexibility. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 16 July 2026

Yet while some of the poem’s colorful explorations are lost, Odysseus’s consistent anguish lends the movie a satisfying thematic coherence. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

coher(ent) + -ence, after Latin cohaerentia

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coherence

• adherence
• appearance
• preclearance
• clearance
• disappearance
• incoherence
• interference
• perseverance
• reappearance
• noninterference