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coherent

American  
[koh-heer-uhnt, -her-] / koʊˈhɪər ənt, -ˈhɛr- /

adjective

  1. logically connected; consistent.

    a coherent argument.

  2. having a natural or due agreement of parts; harmonious.

    a coherent design.

  3. cohering; sticking together.

    a coherent mass of sticky candies.

  4. Physics, Optics.  of or relating to waves that maintain a fixed phase relationship, as in coherent light, or light in which the electromagnetic waves maintain a fixed and predictable phase relationship with each other over a period of time.


coherent British  
/ kəʊˈhɪərənt /

adjective

  1. capable of logical and consistent speech, thought, etc

  2. logical; consistent and orderly

  3. cohering or sticking together

  4. physics (of two or more waves) having the same phase or a fixed phase difference

    coherent light

  5. (of a system of units) consisting only of units the quotient or product of any two of which yield the unit of the resultant quantity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • coherently adverb
  • noncoherent adjective

Etymology

Origin of coherent

First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin cohērent-, variant of Latin cohaerent- (stem of cohaerēns ), present participle of cohaerēre; cohere, -ent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet Mr. Korshak’s collection does suggest a coherent history of modern fantasy illustration in the West.

From The Wall Street Journal

There is a longstanding, consistent and coherent prejudice at work in all its programming.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Mr. Waterfield advances a sound and coherent interpretation of Thucydides’ complex style and ideas.

From The Wall Street Journal

Coaches today agree: Individual skill levels have never been higher, but it’s come at the cost of understanding coherent teamwork, the stuff that is achieved via sacrifice and submitting to the group.

From The Wall Street Journal

“You now have to write with an explicit intention and give everything coherence, as if life is a series of very coherent interconnections,” Díaz says.

From Los Angeles Times