confluence

noun con·flu·ence \ ˈkän-ˌflü-ən(t)s , kən-ˈflü- \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of confluence

1 : a coming or flowing together, meeting, or gathering at one point

a happy confluence of weather and scenery

a confluence of cultures

2 a : the flowing together of two or more streams

b : the place of meeting of two streams

the Mississippi River's confluence with the Missouri River

c : the combined stream formed by conjunction

See confluence defined for English-language learners

See confluence defined for kids

Examples of confluence in a Sentence

the Mississippi River's confluence with the Missouri River
a happy confluence of beautiful weather and spectacular scenery during our vacation

Recent Examples of confluence from the Web

The confluence of the Illinois and Missouri rivers was historically rich with wildlife, fertile riverbeds and a mix of bluffs, forest and prairie.

— mary bergin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Built by the CCC, lodges in Illinois parks continue to serve as cozy getaways," 10 May 2018
The intersection in question is at the confluence of Monroe, East Causeway and the Causeway Boulevard overpass that rises above what can be for motorists a bewildering braid of turn lanes and bridge ramps.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "Roundabout design contract to be vetted by Mandeville City Council," 8 May 2018
The prospect of power lines marring the landscape has stirred deep concerns in The Forks, a rustic town of about 40 full-time residents at the confluence of the Dead and Kennebec rivers.

— david abel, BostonGlobe.com, "Will a transmission line run through the wilds of Maine?," 23 Apr. 2018
Your first thrill will be the sight of the 'Washing Machine'—a confluence of sea and cliff that creates the illusion of a giant, gyrating swirl of water.

— david jefferys, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Perfect (Long) Weekend in St. Barts," 16 Apr. 2018
The blurring of lines between agency and studio is the result of a unique confluence of industry trends.

— benjamin oreskes, latimes.com, "Essential California: Returning to Mexico for a better life," 7 Apr. 2018
The confluence of Bayou Canot and the Mobile River occurs directly above the northern tip of 12 Mile Island.

— ben raines, AL.com, "Wreck found by reporter may be last American slave ship, archaeologists say," 23 Jan. 2018
The confluence of recent events suggests that talks are intensifying to reach a financial settlement with Fifth Avenue Landing for returning control of the site to the convention center.

— lori weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Can convention center expansion backers gain control of bayfront site?," 30 Mar. 2018
The confluence of those two forces can have tragic results.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "Body-cam footage shows Sacramento police killing an unarmed black man.," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confluence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The joining of rivers—as at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers flow together spectacularly—was the original meaning of confluence, and in its later meanings we still hear a strong echo of the physical merging of waters. So today we can speak of a confluence of events, a confluence of interests, a confluence of cultures, and so on, from which something important often emerges.