coincidence

noun

co·​in·​ci·​dence kō-ˈin(t)-sə-dən(t)s How to pronounce coincidence (audio)
-sə-ˌden(t)s
Synonyms of coincidencenext
1
: the act or condition of coinciding : correspondence
… a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness …— Robert South
2
: 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
also : any of these occurrences

Synonyms

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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.
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.
For other countries, this coincidence of self-interest and multilateralism—previously a defining characteristic of U.S. hegemony—is vital for sustaining international cooperation. — Ngaire Woods, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 By coincidence, 2025 is the year of the Giubileo, or the Vatican's Jubilee, a period lasting from late December of last year into the first days of 2026 that is meant to draw Catholics from around the world for an endless sequence of religious ceremonies, conferences and concerts. — Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025 That the successful shot-making stretch came after two quarters of really good team basketball wasn’t a coincidence. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2025 By coincidence, Emhoff spoke to Georgetown Law School students shortly before a preening Trump announced Willkie Farr’s surrender on social media. — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coincidence

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin coincidentia, derivative of coincident-, coincidens, present participle of coincidere "to agree in nature, coincide"

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coincidence was in 1605

Rhymes for coincidence

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Browse Nearby Words

coincide
coincidence
coincidence method
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Cite this Entry

“Coincidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coincidence. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

coincidence

noun
co·​in·​ci·​dence kō-ˈin(t)-səd-ən(t)s How to pronounce coincidence (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on coincidence

Nglish: Translation of coincidence for Spanish Speakers

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