coherent

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adjective co·her·ent \ kō-ˈhir-ənt , -ˈher- \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of coherent

1 a :logically or aesthetically ordered or integrated :consistent

coherent style

a coherent argument

b :having clarity or intelligibility :understandable

a coherent person

a coherent passage

2 :having the quality of holding together or cohering; especially :cohesive, coordinated

a coherent plan for action

3 a :relating to or composed of waves having a constant difference in phase

coherent light

b :producing coherent light

a coherent source

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coherently

adverb

See coherent defined for English-language learners

Examples of coherent in a Sentence

… the diaries and the novels demonstrate how a novelist tweaks and grooms reality into something more structured and coherent than life as it is lived. —Penelope Lively, Atlantic, February 2001
He is without a political agenda as he is without a coherent moral sensibility. —Joyce Carol Oates, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 1990
At times, without my insisting on it, my writings become coherent; the successive elements that occur to me are clearly related. —William Stafford, Writing the Australian Crawl, 1978
This time the song was old, a pattern of rhythmic monosyllables which had lost coherent meaning somewhere in time. —Tony Hillerman, The Blessing Way, 1970
He proposed the most coherent plan to improve the schools.
They are able to function as a coherent group.

Recent Examples of coherent from the Web

And although Hackett's predecessor, Mark Fields, got the boot for not having a coherent strategy, Ford already has made a handful of non-traditional moves.

— adam lashinsky, Fortune, "Data Sheet: Ford’s New CEO Speaks, 40 Under 40, Apple CEO Criticizes Trump," 17 Aug. 2017
Despite this orchestra’s myriad seductions, Mr. Jurowski resisted the urge to overplay; the emphasis was on guiding a coherent, accumulating drama.

— zachary woolfe, New York Times, "Review: William Kentridge’s Triumphant ‘Wozzeck’ Will Come to the Met Opera," 9 Aug. 2017
Beyond his domestic failures, the president's antics destroy any coherent foreign policy process.

— trudy rubin, Philly.com, "McCain's courage stands in sharp contrast to Trump's behavior," 30 July 2017
Instead, our brains attempt to create a coherent picture that makes sense.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "The science of why eyewitness testimony is often wrong," 25 July 2017
This version of democracy does not make any sense, for the simple reason that there is no such thing as a static set of coherent public attitudes that can be dispassionately measured.

— max bloom, National Review, "Democracy Is Not a Poll," 20 July 2017
He was taken to a local hospital for treatment for dehydration but was not coherent enough to provide his name or other information at the time, police said.

— michael brice-saddler, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore County Police identify found teen," 18 July 2017
Believe it or not, the Trump administration has been staging Theme Weeks in an attempt to demonstrate that the president has a coherent agenda.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Trump's 'Made in America' Week Really Makes You Think," 17 July 2017
Finally, there’s the challenge of crafting a coherent trade policy.

— laurent belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, "Will Trump restrain steel imports? Why many in GOP wouldn’t mind if he did.," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coherent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of coherent

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French coherent, borrowed from Latin cohaerent-, cohaerens "touching, adjacent, cohering," from present participle of cohaerēre "to cohere"

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First Known Use: 1557

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COHERENT Defined for English Language Learners

coherent

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adjective

Definition of coherent for English Language Learners

: logical and well-organized : easy to understand
: able to talk or express yourself in a clear way that can be easily understood
: working closely and well together

COHERENT Defined for Kids

coherent

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adjective co·her·ent \ kō-ˈhir-ənt , -ˈher- \

Definition of coherent for Students

1 :logical and well-organized

a coherent speech

2 :to be able to speak well

The accident left her shaken but coherent.

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