confluence

Also con·flux

[kon-floo-uhns]

noun

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.

confluence

/ ˈkɒnflʊəns, ˈkɒnflʌks /

noun

1. a merging or flowing together, esp of rivers

2. a gathering together, esp of people

confluence

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of confluence¹

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

Example Sentences

“What happened at Music Inn in the 1950s,” he argues, “was a remarkable confluence of place, people, and politics that reflected and augured seismic shifts and conflicts in American culture.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Credit a confluence of several economic and political forces.

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It was only a matter of time before South Mumbai's skyline would become a rich confluence of Indo-Saracenic, Gothic and Art Deco buildings.

Read more on BBC

“It’s a really interesting example of the confluence of celebrity with technology and consumer trends,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Overall, this appears to be a confluence of short-term liquidity issues, sustained selling and eroded sentiment rather than a single catalyst,” said Kelly.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• assemblage 
• junction