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

• balance
• concinnity
• consonance
• consonancy
• harmony
• orchestration
• proportion
• symmetry
• symphony
• 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

Managing state across nodes requires sophisticated algorithms for partitioning, replication and consistency—reflecting the philosophical challenges of maintaining coherence in a fragmented system. —Amandeep Midha, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024

With this, feats such as multiphoton imaging across a whole mouse brain or locating tumors around blood vessels beneath centimeter-thick tissues with optical coherence tomography catheters may become possible. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2024

Although the ubiquitous double timeline is used here, the contemporary story still includes the protagonist of the historic storyline, lending greater coherence to the novel. —The Know, The Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2024

But for all of its hype and a solid performance from its leads, Cuckoo suffers from a lack of thematic coherence. —Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

coher(ent) + -ence, after Latin cohaerentia

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1