synchronicity

noun

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

, ˌsin-\

plural synchronicities

Definition of synchronicity

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 C. G. Jung

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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

When dreaming up newlywed style statements, synchronicity is key—as is allowing the spirit of your 'happily ever after' bliss to linger as long as possible. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "Priyanka Chopra Steals a Makeup Cue from Nick Jonas's Preppy Wardrobe Staple," 10 Dec. 2018 Chani Nicholas, the Los Angeles astrologer with a social-justice bent, has a lot to say about the synchronicity between the stars above and earthly matters below. — Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, "The Best Beauty Gifts for Your Horoscope-Obsessed Friend by Astrological Sign," 13 Dec. 2018 Numerical repetition and synchronicity have been observed for thousands of years. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "The Basics of Numerology: How to Calculate Your Life Path and Destiny Numbers," 16 July 2018 The enchanted synchronicities that fuel mystical rhythms, the nonphysical vibrations that generate magick. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "Why Do People Think the Number 13 Is Unlucky? Let's Talk About Triskaidekaphobia," 29 Aug. 2018 Truncating the original dialogue is limited to instances where reading speed and synchronicity with the audio are an issue. — Ace Ratcliff, SELF, "I Rely On Closed Captions to Enjoy a Show And I Don't Appreciate Netflix's Way of Censoring Them," 10 July 2018 Most faces are studying the screens, watching the hands of the surgeon inside the patient, twisting and turning like a dancer’s hands, moving skillfully around the beating heart in perfect synchronicity. — Longreads, "Somewhere Under My Left Ribs: A Nurse’s Story," 31 May 2018 This synchronicity is also evident in the way that the couple encourage those who stay at Casa Iris to become, if only for a fleeting moment, at one with the world around them. — Mark Holgate, Vogue, "In Southern Tuscany, a New B&B Shared a Renovation Team With the Sistine Chapel," 30 May 2018 There’s synchronicity, whether or not people are experiencing something virtual at the same time. — Peter Rubin, WIRED, "With Venues, Oculus and Facebook Push Social VR Into New Territory," 30 May 2018

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

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31 Mar 2019

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The first known use of synchronicity was circa 1889

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More Definitions for synchronicity

synchronicity

noun

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

plural synchronicities

Medical Definition of synchronicity

: 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