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

That uneven parallel, the orca’s understanding of where her mother can be found, is no coincidence. —David L. Ulin, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024

There is simply no possible way this is a coincidence. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2024

Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, but whatever this is seems both deliberate and predictable. —Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 28 Mar. 2024

See, the fact that the moon is the perfect size to cover up the face of the sun in the sky is a total coincidence. —Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2024

By coincidence, their 1981 concert was at the same venue (then known as the San Diego Sports Arena). —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2024

The decision to base the hotel opposite the quays in Kowloon, and not on Hong Kong Island itself, was no coincidence. —Isabelle Kliger, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

The remix’s move onto streaming services was no coincidence; it was released after the Andersson remix went viral on TikTok in the past month. —Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024

And the timing is no coincidence, experts say, with protesters seeking favorable policies in a year with a record number of elections around the globe. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024

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

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