coincidental

adjective

co·​in·​ci·​den·​tal (ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈden-tᵊl 

1

: resulting from a coincidence

a coincidental resemblance

2

: occurring or existing at the same time

coincidental deaths

Synonyms

• coetaneous
• coeval
• coexistent
• coexisting
• coextensive
• coincident
• concurrent
• contemporaneous
• contemporary
• coterminous
• simultaneous
• synchronic
• synchronous

Examples of coincidental in a Sentence

The fact that he and his boss went to the same college was purely coincidental.

the nearly coincidental deaths of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa

Recent Examples on the Web

The former home of the Pac-12 title game and the site of last month’s Big 12 media days makes this matchup not only hypothetical but coincidental. —Seth Emerson, The Athletic, 8 Aug. 2024

After being exonerated for murder, the singer goes on a roaring rampage of revenge against an unnamed person and any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024

Israeli officials said the incident was coincidental and not based on intelligence. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024

The timing for her relocation from the U.S. to the Netherlands – also her first time living overseas – was coincidental. —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

coincident + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

coincidental

adjective

co·​in·​ci·​den·​tal (ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈdent-ᵊl 

1

: resulting from a coincidence

a coincidental resemblance

2

: occurring or existing at the same time

coincidentally

-ˈdent-lē

-ᵊl-ē

adverb