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

Elliot — a misfit yearning for coherence and connection; a cog raging against the machine that owns him — rebooted the alienated hero to electrifying effect. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 4 July 2025

Participants concluded that lasting success would require addressing deeper issues beyond infrastructure—social equity, environmental sustainability, and regulatory coherence. —Vivian Toh, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

In isolated test devices, IBM has managed to push average coherence times to 2 milliseconds but translating that to larger chips is not straightforward. —IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2025

To live in community with a place creates a sense of collective coherence, to use Hübl’s term. —Bridget Crocker june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 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