coordination

American  

[koh-awr-dn-ey-shuhn] / koʊˌɔr dnˈeɪ ʃən /

Or co-ordination

noun

1. the act or state of coordinating or of being coordinated.

2. proper order or relationship.

3. harmonious combination or interaction, as of functions or parts.

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coordination British  

/ kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. balanced and effective interaction of movement, actions, etc

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coordination Cultural  

1. The use of grammatical structures to give equal emphasis to, or to “coordinate,” two or more words, groups of words, or ideas: “I like eggs and toast.” In the following sentences, each clause receives equal emphasis: “Mr. Jones teaches French, and Ms. Williams teaches English”; “Mr. Jones teaches French, but Ms. Williams teaches English.” (Compare subordination.)

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Other Word Forms

• noncoordination noun

Etymology

Origin of coordination

First recorded in 1595–1605, coordination is from the Late Latin word coordinātiōn- (stem of coordinātiō ). See co-, ordination

Explanation

Coordination is the act of arranging, putting things in order, or making things run smoothly together. Fencing might seem like a breeze, but it actually takes the graceful coordination of your hands, eyes, feet and mind. Some people like to put a dash in co-ordination. But whatever way you spell it, coordination has to do with coordinating things — whether it's pulling all the elements together for a fabulous party or just getting your hands and eyes to work together during batting practice. If you're looking for more coordination in your life, try organizing your calendar, doing some yoga, or getting a personal assistant.

Example Sentences

The experiments supported a key idea: highly complex coordination does not require advanced intelligence or centralized control.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Helen was then admitted to A&E at Ysbyty Bronglais in Aberystwyth where her condition rapidly worsened, with severe confusion, loss of coordination, and increasing drowsiness.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

In an interview with AFP, a senior Ukrainian military official detailed the plan -- involving state authorisation and integration into the air force coordination system -- that has already attracted over a dozen companies.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Hancock Park will stay partially open, with new walking paths and outdoor features set to be phased in coordination with construction.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Charles was a natural athlete, with instinctive timing and coordination and the competitor’s will to win over others, which makes for success in the world.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• allocation
• allotment
• analysis
• arrangement
• designation
• distribution
• grade
• regulation