coincidence
noun
co·in·ci·dence
kō-ˈin(t)-sə-dən(t)s 
-sə-ˌden(t)s
1
: the act or condition of coinciding : correspondence
… a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness …—
Robert South
Robert South2
: the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection
… causal connection requires something more than mere coincidence as to time and place …—Wayne R. LaFave
Wayne R. LaFave
also
: any of these occurrences
Examples of coincidence in a Sentence
It was mere coincidence that brought them together so far from Chicago.
By coincidence, every man in the room was named Fred.
“I'm going to Boston this weekend.” “What a coincidence! I am too.”
It was no coincidence that he quit his job at the bank a day after the robbery.
a series of strange coincidences
By a fortunate coincidence, we arrived at the theater at the same time.
Scientists have no explanation for the coincidence of these phenomena.
Recent Examples on the Web
The color blue shows up too many times in history to be a coincidence.
—Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Jan. 2025
In another bit of family coincidence, her mother, Ann McDonough, once played the role of Mary Todd’s sister, Elizabeth Todd Edwards, in the 1993 play Abe Lincoln in Illinois at Lincoln Center Theater.
—Christopher Barnard, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
And a few days later, by coincidence, there was an annual film-industry market in London.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Monday marks an unusual coincidence with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday, falling on the same day as Donald Trump's second inauguration, which may prompt questions about whether businesses and services are open on Jan. 20.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for coincidence 
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Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Jan. 2025
In another bit of family coincidence, her mother, Ann McDonough, once played the role of Mary Todd’s sister, Elizabeth Todd Edwards, in the 1993 play Abe Lincoln in Illinois at Lincoln Center Theater.
—Christopher Barnard, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
And a few days later, by coincidence, there was an annual film-industry market in London.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Monday marks an unusual coincidence with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday, falling on the same day as Donald Trump's second inauguration, which may prompt questions about whether businesses and services are open on Jan. 20.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for coincidence
Dictionary Entries Near coincidence
Cite this Entry
“Coincidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coincidence. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coincidence
noun
co·in·ci·dence
kō-ˈin(t)-səd-ən(t)s
1
: the act or condition of coinciding
2
a
: two things that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection
b
: either one of these happenings
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