adherence

noun

ad·​her·​ence ad-ˈhir-ən(t)s 

əd-

1

: the act, action, or quality of adhering

adherence of paint to wood

2

: steady or faithful attachment : fidelity

adherence to a political party

Synonyms of adherence

• adhesion
• cling

Examples of adherence in a Sentence

you'd think these refrigerator magnets would have better adherence—they fall off every time I open the door

adherence to convention requires that the couple send out formal wedding invitations

Recent Examples on the Web

The Israeli prison service said in response to the PHRI report that all of its facilities are operated in adherence with Israeli laws and with proper oversight. —CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

The screening and monitoring period includes detailed sleep tracking, medication adherence and periodic check-ins with researchers. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

As early as March 4, 2020, the FBI opened an assessment of Hole for possible adherence to racially motivated violent extremism. —Tony Cook, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025

Police added that no evidence of postmortem fractures were found on the remains, adding that forensic investigators found soil adherence and staining that suggest the remains may have been in the ground for over five decades. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French adherance, aerdaunce, aherdance "act of adhering, faction, supporters," borrowed from Medieval Latin adhaerentia, going back to Late Latin, "act of adhering," derivative of Latin adhaerent-, adhaerens, present participle of adhaerēre "to adhere"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for adherence

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

Kids Definition

adherence

noun

ad·​her·​ence ad-ˈhir-ən(t)s 

əd-

1

: the action or quality of adhering

2

: steady or faithful attachment

adherence to the truth