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. (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 Word Forms

• noncoincidence noun
• precoincidence noun
• supercoincidence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of coincidence¹

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

Example Sentences

It is a grim coincidence that the talks are happening exactly two years after Hamas inflicted a trauma on Israelis that is still acute.

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Whether Davidson was aware of that grim coincidence isn’t clear, and if he wants that paycheck to clear, my guess is he won’t say.

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"This wasn't a coincidence, this was triple sabotage at the UN. They ought to be ashamed of themselves."

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“When you put all of this together, it doesn’t look like a coincidence to me,” Leavitt said.

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The truth here, of course, is that there is no coincidence in either announcement.

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Related Words

• accident 
• fate 
• fluke 
• happening