coherent

[ koh-heer-uhnt, -her- ]

adjective

1. logically connected; consistent:

   a coherent argument.

2. having a natural or due agreement of parts; harmonious:

   a coherent design.

3. cohering; sticking together:

   a coherent mass of sticky candies.

4. Physics, Optics. of or relating to waves that maintain a fixed phase relationship, as in coherent light, or light in which the electromagnetic waves maintain a fixed and predictable phase relationship with each other over a period of time. laser.

coherent

/ kəʊˈhɪərənt /

adjective

1. capable of logical and consistent speech, thought, etc
2. logical; consistent and orderly
3. cohering or sticking together
4. physics (of two or more waves) having the same phase or a fixed phase difference

   coherent light

5. (of a system of units) consisting only of units the quotient or product of any two of which yield the unit of the resultant quantity

Derived Forms

• coˈherently, adverb

Other Words From

• co·her·ent·ly adverb
• non·co·her·ent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coherent¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin cohērent-, variant of Latin cohaerent- (stem of cohaerēns ), present participle of cohaerēre; cohere, -ent

Example Sentences

Ofsted added it made it more difficult for children to receive a coherent education.

From BBC

There were changes in leadership with no coherent ideological element.

From Salon

Kennedy accused Trump of “a barely coherent barrage of wild and inaccurate claims.”

From Los Angeles Times

As a fourth-generation synchrotron, the $657 million facility will generate brilliant, coherent beams for experiments in fields such as materials science, chemistry, and biomedicine.

From Science Magazine

The staffer said the woman was “standing on her own and very coherent,” while Hegseth was “very intoxicated,” according to the report.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comprehensible
• consistent
• intelligible
• logical
• lucid
• meaningful
• orderly
• rational
• reasoned
• systematic