cogency

American  

[koh-juhn-see] / ˈkoʊ dʒən si /

noun

1. the quality or state of being convincing or persuasive.

   The cogency of the argument was irrefutable.

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Other Word Forms

• noncogency noun

Etymology

Origin of cogency

First recorded in 1680–90; cog(ent) + -ency

Example Sentences

I was reminded of the unorthodox style of Jane Bowles’ “In a Summer House,” a play I’m fond of but one you probably haven’t seen for reasons of cogency and coherence.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2024

Tall, handsome and with a roguish charm, Bo seemed to enjoy the challenge, answering questions with wit and cogency.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2022

Her book has very little celebration in it, but it is a triumphant document of her refusal to be unseen, her ongoing dedication to cogency.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2022

The cogency of her intervention is twofold: its relative rarity, and the fact that Swift is who she is – not Joan Baez getting arrested on a peace march, or Paul Kantner urging “Gotta Revolution!”

From The Guardian • Oct. 13, 2018

He expounds his views fearlessly but modestly, with logical cogency.

From Garcia the Centenarian And His Times Being a Memoir of Manuel Garcia's Life and Labours for the Advancement of Music and Science by Mackinlay, M. (Malcolm) Sterling