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

Derived 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

As AI takes on more codifiable knowledge work, the premium will shift toward judgment, persuasion and coordination, capabilities that are inherently interpersonal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Researchers believe the journey likely involved multiple stages and required careful coordination among groups living across different regions.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

Xi praised the two as "good neighbours, good friends and good comrades bound by a shared destiny", and called for closer strategic coordination.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

The many needs include smarter enforcement of existing laws, faster development of low-cost interim and permanent housing, better coordination of outreach and follow-up services and more people willing to do all of this work.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

The writer of the slogan We get the job done, not make excuses presumably did not anticipate how customers would wince at the bad coordination.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

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