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

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

• coexistence
• concurrence
• concurrency

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

In what is almost certainly not a coincidence, the decline has been matched by a drop in the number of U.K. artists breaking through, both domestically and internationally. —Mark Sutherland, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025

Though three can’t possibly be a coincidence, Tzarina isn’t wrong to expect restaurateurs to enjoy their Wagyu steak at the correct temperature, which is medium rare; even Jason agrees. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025

The timing of the assault on Goma, which coincided with the arrival of the second Trump administration, is unlikely to have been a coincidence. —Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025

For the galaxies to all be in the same plane and move in the same direction seems like too much of a coincidence. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for coincidence

• incidence

Kids 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