concurrence

Imagine two rivers flowing toward the same sea—that's concurrence! It describes when things happen at the same time or when people reach an agreement. You might notice a strange concurrence of events, like thinking of an old friend just as they call you. Similarly, scientists might look at the concurrence of certain weather patterns and bird migrations to understand what might be connected. The word suggests a coming together, whether in timing or opinion. For instance, a lawyer might seek the concurrence of their client before finalizing a settlement, meaning they need their formal agreement. When it refers to timing, it doesn’t have to mean the events caused each other—only that they lined up.

Concurrence is a formal word with multiple layers of meaning, all revolving around the idea of things "running together." At its core, it describes the state of agreeing—not simply acknowledging something, but actively sharing the same opinion or viewpoint. If a board of directors reaches a concurrence on a new company strategy, they have collectively decided to move forward in harmony.

However, concurrence isn't always about human agreement. It also refers to events happening at exactly the same time. Consider the concurrence of a heavy thunderstorm and a city-wide power outage; the two events are linked only by timing. In legal and technical contexts, "concurrence" can also refer to required alignment—for example, the idea that intent and action must occur together in some crimes—or to required approval from more than one person before a decision becomes official.

In courts, you may also hear about a judge writing a "concurrence" (or "concurring opinion"). This means the judge agrees with the final decision, but may give different reasons or add extra points.

The word stems from the Latin currere, meaning "to run," and the prefix con-, meaning "together." This literal "running together" hints at a shared direction or simultaneous movement. It is most often used in formal settings—legal documents, scientific reports, and academic discussions—where precision is paramount. While you wouldn't typically say, "I felt a concurrence with my friend over which pizza to order," you would certainly say, "There was a remarkable concurrence of evidence supporting the researcher's theory." Whether it is a shared belief, simultaneous events, or necessary conditions aligning, concurrence signifies a point where different paths meet and harmonize.