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 of coincidence

• occurrence

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

But those homages were a mere coincidence. —Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026

And who’s to say that if Lovin’ Life moved forward with its plans for 2026 — and was facing steep challenges in the form of things like, say, radius clauses — that Bank of America Stadium wouldn’t book Bad Bunny or Foo Fighters for the same weekend, whether purposefully or just by pure coincidence? —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026

The ripple effect of the defense collapsing is no coincidence. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026

The coincidence has invited an avalanche of historical analogies. —Cristina Guevara, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

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