WordGarden.iocoherence
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /kəʊhˈiərəns/
US
- /koʊˈhɪrəns/
Meanings
Noun
the quality of forming a logical, consistent whole
a stable phase relationship between waves
Beyond the definition
Think of building with LEGO blocks. If the pieces fit together smoothly and make sense as a whole, that's coherence! In writing or speech, coherence means your ideas flow in logical order and connect clearly, so your audience can easily follow along. A coherent argument isn't just a bunch of random thoughts; it holds together as one clear idea.
If a story lacks coherence, it might jump around without reason, leaving you confused. If someone's explanation is incoherent, they haven't explained things clearly or in a way that makes sense. You need coherence to be understood—whether you're building with blocks or building an argument! Think of the word "cohere"—to stick together.
Coherence refers to the quality of being logical and connected. It is about how well different parts fit together to form a unified whole. It's more than just making sense—it's about how ideas move from one to another smoothly, allowing easier understanding.
You encounter coherence in many contexts. In writing, a coherent essay has clear topic sentences, logical transitions between paragraphs, and a consistent focus. A detective needs to put clues together coherently to solve a case, because each clue must connect to the others. A coherent plan is one where each step makes sense in relation to the overall goal.
However, coherence isn't limited to essays or plans. It can also describe someone's thinking. If a person is suffering from a serious medical condition, they may lose coherence, and their thoughts can become fragmented and disorganized.
Sometimes, you'll hear "social coherence," which refers to shared values and beliefs in a community. A society with high social coherence tends to be more stable and harmonious.
So whether it's a well-written argument, a carefully constructed plan, or a clear train of thought, coherence is all about connection, unity, and logical flow – ensuring everything fits together seamlessly.
Examples
- 1
Essay structure
The essay has some good ideas, but it lacks coherence.
- 2
Report editing
She rewrote the middle section to improve the coherence of the report.
- 3
Promises vs actions
There is very little coherence between the company's promises and its actions.
- Patterncoherence between A and B
how well two things fit together
- 4
Novel theme
A clear theme gives the novel coherence from beginning to end.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Government response
After months of changing rules, the government's response no longer had any coherence.
- 6
Film logic
Even the stranger parts of the film have enough internal coherence to feel believable.
- Phraseinternal coherence
when the parts of something stay consistent with each other
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- clarity
- continuity
- logicality
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- logical coherence
- internal coherence
- narrative coherence
- coherence and cohesion
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- coherencenoun
Forms
- coherencespluralnoun