cohesive

adjective

co·​he·​sive kō-ˈhē-siv 

-ziv

: exhibiting or producing cohesion or coherence

a cohesive social unit

cohesive soils

the cohesive property of clay

cohesively adverb

cohesiveness noun

Did you know?

The Latin verb haerēre has shown remarkable stick-to-itiveness in influencing the English lexicon, which is fitting for a word that means "to be closely attached; to stick." Among its descendants are adhere (literally meaning "to stick"), adhere’s relative adhesive (a word for sticky substances), inhere (meaning "to belong by nature or habit"), and even hesitate (which implies remaining stuck in place before taking action). In Latin, haerēre teamed up with the prefix co- to form cohaerēre, which means "to stick together." Cohaerēre is the ancestor of cohesive, a word borrowed into English in the early 18th century to describe something that sticks together literally (such as dough or mud) or figuratively (such as a society or sports team).

Examples of cohesive in a Sentence

Their tribe is a small but cohesive group.

Religion can be used as a cohesive social force.

Recent Examples on the Web

The property has a cohesive design thread in its use of maximalism, though no two guest rooms look quite alike, providing a sense of unique eclecticism. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026

Knead with your hand in the bowl to form a cohesive mass (some of the chocolate may fall out, but just press it back in). — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

The collections are typically designed in small groups of two or three related character, which allows customers to build out a cohesive story or pick individual pieces to add to their decorations, Dyer said. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2026

Rivers Edge by Sherwin-Williams Amy Wax, an interior color specialist, suggests easygoing neutrals to make a room feel more cohesive, like Sherwin-Williams’ Rivers Edge. — Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin cohaesus, past participle of cohaerēre "to stick together, cohere" + -ive

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cohesive

• adhesive

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Medical Definition

cohesive

adjective

co·​he·​sive kō-ˈhē-siv, -ziv 

: exhibiting or producing cohesion

cohesively adverb

cohesiveness noun