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.

---

coordination British  

/ kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. balanced and effective interaction of movement, actions, etc

---

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.)

---

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

At the U.N., the Trump administration has begun to channel aid money through a single department established to manage emergencies, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, earmarking $3.8 billion so far.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, 400,000 people have been affected.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

The officer ran down other departments I might end up in: Prosecutions, Removal Coordination Unit, or Detention.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

Rojal of the General Coordination for Displaced People and Refugees in Darfur warned that the situation "needs immediate intervention".

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

Coordination phrases simply don’t follow the logic of ordinary headed phrases.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

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