coherence

noun

co·​her·​ence kō-ˈhir-ən(t)s  -ˈher- 

1

: the quality or state of cohering: such as

a

: systematic or logical connection or consistency

The essay as a whole lacks coherence.

b

: integration of diverse elements, relationships, or values

"The various parts of this house—discrete in color, in shape, in placement—join together with remarkable coherence."

—Paul Goldberger

2

: the property of being coherent

a plan that lacks coherence

Synonyms of coherence

• symmetry
• orchestration
• proportion
• correlation
• harmony
• unity

Examples of coherence in a Sentence

the house has been expanded and remodeled so many times that now it's a jumbled mess that lacks coherence

Recent Examples on the Web

The challenge is not to retreat from circulation, but to insist that circulation be thought through, grounded in specific places and their conditions, and accountable, open to friction, contamination, and transformation rather than insulated coherence. —Manuela Moscoso, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026

Flush with capital and confidence but short on coherence, Quibi shut down in December 2020, just six months after its debut. —Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026

Other milestones include higher qubit counts — which increase the potential size and complexity of problems a quantum computer can represent and help solve — and coherence times, which allow more reliable computations by reducing the impact of noise and errors. —Dylan Butts,matthew Chin, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026

Or, to put it another way, technology of this sort makes the private dream of coherence more vivid. —Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

coher(ent) + -ence, after Latin cohaerentia

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coherence

• adherence
• appearance
• preclearance
• clearance
• disappearance
• incoherence
• interference
• perseverance
• reappearance
• noninterference