confluence

American  

[kon-floo-uhns] / ˈkɒn flu əns /

Also conflux

noun

confluences plural

1. a flowing together of two or more streams, rivers, or the like.

   the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

2. their place of junction.

   St. Louis is at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

3. a body of water formed by the flowing together of two or more streams, rivers, or the like.

4. a coming together of people or things; concourse.

   Synonyms:

   meeting, union

5. a crowd or throng; assemblage.

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confluence British  

/ ˈkɒnflʊəns, ˈkɒnflʌks /

noun

1. a merging or flowing together, esp of rivers

2. a gathering together, esp of people

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confluence Scientific  

/ kŏn′flo̅o̅-əns /

1. A flowing together of two or more streams or two or more glaciers.

2. The point of juncture of such streams or glaciers.

3. The combined stream or glacier formed by this juncture.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• confluences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of confluence

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin confluentia, from Latin confluent-, stem of confluēns “flowing together” ( see confluent) + -ia -ia

Explanation

Confluence means a flowing together. In a literal sense, it's about rivers. But it's more often used to talk about the coming together of factors or ideas, or of cultures in a diverse city. Con- means "with," and -fluence sounds like "flow." When things come together like rivers do, flowing from entirely different places, you call that a confluence. If the senior class needs to raise money for a class trip, and the drama club is looking for someone to do concessions during intermission at the school play, that's a confluence of factors.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

confluence confluences

“I felt this extraordinary confluence of my passions.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Experts point to a confluence of factors — and, primarily, that consumers want choices.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 5, 2026

This expansionist push brought these cultures into new confluence and conflict.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

Starbucks Korea said it chose the setting for the "scenic confluence of the Han and Imjin rivers" that offer visitors a "unique place to relax amid nature".

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

Throughout the years, Pittsburgh had welcomed all—anyone who wanted to work hard could come to the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Disasters are real — also, these days, frighteningly common, be they epic confluences of nature and negligence or the murderous and preventable kind.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2025

Harel's focus on the confluences of Darwin's life rather than its conflicts offers a refreshing take on his legacy.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 15, 2022

So it has a lot of really wonderful confluences.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 5, 2021

Occasions formed confluences with other occasions: social, political, and personal themes that would make "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" more than just a movie.

From Salon ● May 26, 2019

Here, with abounding confluences of onion, Whose vastitudes of perfume tear the soul In wish of the not unpotatoed stew, They float and fade and flutter like morning dew.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, June 4, 1892 by Various

Related Words

• assemblage
• junction