coincidence

[ koh-in-si-duhns ]

noun

1. a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance:

   Our meeting in Venice was pure coincidence.

   Synonyms: fate, luck, accident

2. the condition or fact of coinciding.
3. an instance of this.

coincidence

/ kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns /

noun

1. a chance occurrence of events remarkable either for being simultaneous or for apparently being connected
2. the fact, condition, or state of coinciding
3. See anticoincidence
   modifier electronics of or relating to a circuit that produces an output pulse only when both its input terminals receive pulses within a specified interval Compare anticoincidence

   coincidence gate

Other Words From

• nonco·inci·dence noun
• preco·inci·dence noun
• super·co·inci·dence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of coincidence¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; coincid(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

In other words, it was no coincidence that politics had become self-sustaining, self-dealing, and self-centered.

From Freakonomics

The timing of the trip—which will take him to Italy, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Norway—may not be a coincidence.

From Quartz

“It is probably not a coincidence that Gloria released a poll this week showing how much further ahead his pollster has him,” Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts write.

From Voice of San Diego

It is probably not a coincidence that Gloria released a poll this week showing how much further ahead his pollster has him.

From Voice of San Diego

The coincidence was strong, and if confirmed, it would let astronomers figure out what causes fast radio bursts.

From Quanta Magazine

In Colombia, it was perceived more like a coincidence or perhaps even an opportunistic play by the FARC.

From The Daily Beast

By a sad coincidence, one of these heroes, John Michael Doar, died that same day from congestive heart failure.

From The Daily Beast

In a strange coincidence, the Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything opened the same weekend as Interstellar.

From The Daily Beast

Is this just coincidence, or has something changed in the cultural dialogue?

From The Daily Beast

His last line was, “Barbara Jean Kralik was not killed by coincidence!”

From The Daily Beast

When the ship tossed in an unusually rough crossing he was prepared to admit to himself that it was an uncanny coincidence.

From Project Gutenberg

But, having summarised them, we also become aware of a very curious coincidence.

From Project Gutenberg

The door flew open, so that the princess receded, frightened in spite of herself by the odd coincidence.

From Project Gutenberg

"It is only a chance resemblance, of course—a mere coincidence," she replied, in a tone of uneasiness.

From Project Gutenberg

Do not wish to suggest anything wrong; but coincidence at least remarkable.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accident
• fate
• fluke
• happening