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

Matching this test with electrons would require maintaining quantum coherence for 100 million years. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026

Engineering challenges, including qubit coherence and error correction, could postpone D-Wave’s commercialization timelines and weaken its competitive edge. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Nodale said the Paris flagship signaled the jeweler’s ambitions in terms of brand coherence and depth of collections rather than rapid geographic spread of its retail network. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 19 Jan. 2026

No human writers’ room or branching narrative system could sustain coherence across vast numbers of individualized storylines. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Jan. 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