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

• 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

Each side, in short, overestimates the other’s coherence. —Lizzi C. Lee, Time, 17 Oct. 2025

To further improve stability and data integrity, the team developed a mid-circuit networking protocol, a technique designed to preserve the coherence of data qubits during network operations. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025

But zoom out, and coherence emerged. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025

When Sacco set out to investigate the riot, in 2014, he was drawn to the tension between people’s memories of the experience, their rationalizations, and the coherence of each of the conflicting accounts. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025

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