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.

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

Other Word Forms

• coherently adverb
• noncoherent 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

Even more surprisingly, these fragments can later reassemble themselves into a coherent structure once again.

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In the same way, a coherent adaptation strategy is an act of collective self-defense against a threat we can neither ignore nor entirely prevent.

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Waller has proven a prescient economist with intellectually coherent policy arguments.

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The judges ruled that “compelling and coherent evidence,” including a videotape in which Abd-Al-Rahman says he is Ali Kushayb, showed that he was the militia leader in question.

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The version of Hamas that was able to attack Israel with devastating force two years has long since been broken as a coherent military organisation.

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Related Words

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