coincidence

noun

co·​in·​ci·​dence kō-ˈin(t)-sə-dən(t)s 

-sə-ˌden(t)s

1

: the act or condition of coinciding : correspondence

… a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness …

—Robert South

2

: the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection

… causal connection requires something more than mere coincidence as to time and place …

—Wayne R. LaFave

also : any of these occurrences

Synonyms

• coexistence
• concurrence
• concurrency

Examples of coincidence in a Sentence

It was mere coincidence that brought them together so far from Chicago.

By coincidence, every man in the room was named Fred.

“I'm going to Boston this weekend.” “What a coincidence! I am too.”

It was no coincidence that he quit his job at the bank a day after the robbery.

a series of strange coincidences

By a fortunate coincidence, we arrived at the theater at the same time.

Scientists have no explanation for the coincidence of these phenomena.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though following fellow athletes on social media is definitely not a confirmation that Ramsey is headed for the NFC North, this is quite a coincidence. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025

The present rock n' roll theme in Cyrus' latest aesthetic is not a coincidence and that, in part, comes down to the work of her stylist Bradley Kenneth. —Michelle Lee, People.com, 19 June 2025

This is not a coincidence but appears to be a quiet act of curation since both films address the consequences of freedom that was promised but never fully delivered. —Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

While the timing of Trump’s parade and Charles’ Trooping the Color birthday celebration may be a coincidence, the comparisons are inevitable, with the U.S. president likewise using a military event to assert his role as head of state, as Vanity Fair writer Erin Vanderhoof said. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin coincidentia, derivative of coincident-, coincidens, present participle of coincidere "to agree in nature, coincide"

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coincidence

• incidence

Kids Definition

coincidence

noun

co·​in·​ci·​dence kō-ˈin(t)-səd-ən(t)s 

1

: the act or condition of coinciding

2

a

: two things that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection

b

: either one of these happenings