cohesive

adjective

co·​he·​sive kō-ˈhē-siv How to pronounce cohesive (audio)
-ziv
: exhibiting or producing cohesion or coherence
a cohesive social unit
cohesive soils
the cohesive property of clay
cohesively adverb
cohesiveness noun

Did you know?

The Latin verb haerēre has shown remarkable stick-to-itiveness in influencing the English lexicon, which is fitting for a word that means "to be closely attached; to stick." Among its descendants are adhere (literally meaning "to stick"), adhere’s relative adhesive (a word for sticky substances), inhere (meaning "to belong by nature or habit"), and even hesitate (which implies remaining stuck in place before taking action). In Latin, haerēre teamed up with the prefix co- to form cohaerēre, which means "to stick together." Cohaerēre is the ancestor of cohesive, a word borrowed into English in the early 18th century to describe something that sticks together literally (such as dough or mud) or figuratively (such as a society or sports team).

Examples of cohesive in a Sentence

Their tribe is a small but cohesive group. Religion can be used as a cohesive social force.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The goal is to create a cohesive atmosphere, especially in the first room the clients will walk into: the foyer. Jordan Greene, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025 If head coach Tom Thibodeau had it his way, his team would be hitting its stride — sharp, cohesive, connected — with the playoffs on the horizon. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025 The sunny set includes a quilt in twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king sizes and matching shams to create a cohesive look in your space. Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2025 Over five first-rate essay collections and one very good, if underrated, novel, Meghan Daum has written a cohesive, almost novelistic narrative about a character named Meghan Daum. Thomas Beller, Air Mail, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cohesive

Word History

Etymology

Latin cohaesus, past participle of cohaerēre "to stick together, cohere" + -ive

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cohesive was in 1718

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Cohesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohesive. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

cohesive

adjective
co·​he·​sive kō-ˈhē-siv, -ziv How to pronounce cohesive (audio)
: exhibiting or producing cohesion
cohesively adverb
cohesiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cohesive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!