coincidental

adjective

co·​in·​ci·​den·​tal (ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈden-tᵊl 

1

: resulting from a coincidence

a coincidental resemblance

2

: occurring or existing at the same time

coincidental deaths

Synonyms

• coetaneous
• coeval
• coexistent
• coexisting
• coextensive
• coincident
• concurrent
• contemporaneous
• contemporary
• coterminous
• simultaneous
• synchronic
• synchronous

Examples of coincidental in a Sentence

The fact that he and his boss went to the same college was purely coincidental.

the nearly coincidental deaths of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa

Recent Examples on the Web

The book hits shelves on April 2, though timing was coincidental in Moore's career timeline: announcing her step back from competitive surfing in January, before teasing the book a few days later. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024

The coincidental rise of aggressive great power competitors in space, alongside the impressive agility and utility of commercial space companies showcased in the Ukraine War, hints at the evolving nature of space warfare in the coming decades. —Charles Beames, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

Arvidsson also mixed it up with Devils All-Star forward Jack Hughes in front of the benches in the second period, drawing coincidental minors. —Tom Canavan, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2024

Four Arena Group executives, including the CEO, Ross B. Levinsohn, were fired after the scandal, though an Arena Group spokesperson says the timing was coincidental and related to ownership changes. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2023

Winningham sings, and in light of Elizabeth’s plight — a woman with a mind disordered by grief — the words have a coincidental authority. —Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023

Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. —Perry Link, The New York Review of Books, 16 Nov. 2023

The parallels were striking – and surely not coincidental. —Dov Waxman, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2023

The timing of these offers and early conversations about new shows, producing films, and more can’t be coincidental. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

coincident + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

coincidental

adjective

co·​in·​ci·​den·​tal (ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈdent-ᵊl 

1

: resulting from a coincidence

a coincidental resemblance

2

: occurring or existing at the same time

coincidentally

-ˈdent-lē

-ᵊl-ē

adverb