coherence

noun

co·​her·​ence kō-ˈhir-ən(t)s How to pronounce coherence (audio) -ˈher- How to pronounce coherence (audio)
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

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
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.
But the leaders transforming industries are increasingly anchored in something harder to quantify: internal coherence. Carrie Anne Yu, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 But a truly European defense requires strategic coherence on how to organize this effort: where, how, and to what ends this money should be spent. Sophia Besch, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2025 Political leaders now face a choice: lead with technical clarity and policy coherence or tinker at the political edges. María Mendiluce, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Our expectations about what can be treated lightly no less than our expectations of dramatic coherence have changed a lot since then, let alone since 1953. Jesse Green, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for coherence

Word History

Etymology

coher(ent) + -ence, after Latin cohaerentia

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coherence was circa 1580

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Cite this Entry

“Coherence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coherence. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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