synchronicity

noun

syn·​chro·​nic·​i·​ty ˌsiŋ-krə-ˈni-sə-tē 

ˌsin-

plural synchronicities

1

: the quality or fact of being synchronous

2

: the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (such as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality

—used especially in the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung

Did you know?

"It happens to everyone sooner or later: A certain number pops up wherever you go; an old friend you haven't seen in 20 years since high school appears the same day you're looking at her picture in a yearbook; you're singing a song and turn on the radio—and the same song is playing." Such coincidences, here described by Thomas Ropp in The Arizona Republic, March 29,1999, are examples of synchronicity. The concept is linked to the psychology of Carl Jung. Jung didn't coin the word (the "simultaneousness" sense of synchronicity was already in use), but he gave it special importance in his writings. Jung believed that such "meaningful coincidences" play an important role in our lives. Today, some people even look to synchronicities for spiritual guidance.

Examples of synchronicity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once bell bottoms gave way to leg warmers, Ogilvy & Mather launched Ogilvy Orchestration in 1985, promising a symphony of synchronicity for overburdened clients. —Tim Maleeny, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Brodsky taught me that scientists measure the richness of communication by looking at two dimensions: Cues (facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, gestures) and synchronicity (real-time or delayed communication). —Carmine Gallo, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Pay attention to all of the synchronicities and messages from the universe now. —Kyle Thomas, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025

Play the waiting game and stay alert for synchronicities. —USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for synchronicity

• authenticity
• chromaticity
• concentricity
• domesticity
• eccentricity
• elasticity
• electricity
• iconicity
• metallicity
• multiplicity
• specificity
• analyticity

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Medical Definition

synchronicity

noun

syn·​chro·​nic·​i·​ty ˌsiŋ-krə-ˈnis-ət-ē, ˌsin- 

plural synchronicities

: the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality

—used especially in the psychology of C. G. Jung