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

The choice to stage the comeback performance in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate and historic entryway to Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace, was no coincidence — as the new album is in many ways a meditation on the group’s ethnic identity. —Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026

Thanks to a studio scheduling coincidence, a number of music stars working on a separate project wound up contributing to the song, including George Harrison, Billy Preston, Carole King and many more. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2026

That pattern is not coincidence. —Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 17 Mar. 2026

By coincidence or not, another group of new seats in the Gol Nord (North Stand) were ready for members just in time for Sunday’s La Liga game against Sevilla — meaning that the election day attendance of 56,483 was the biggest at the stadium since before the rebuild project began in June 2023. —Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Mar. 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