coherent

[ koh-heer-uh nt, -her- ]

/ koʊˈhɪər ənt, -ˈhɛr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR coherent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

logically connected; consistent: a coherent argument.

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

cohering; sticking together: a coherent mass of sticky candies.

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.See also laser.

Nearby words

Origin of coherent

1570–80; < Medieval Latin cohērent-, variant of Latin cohaerent- (stem of cohaerēns), present participle of cohaerēre. See cohere, -ent

Related formsco·her·ent·ly, adverbnon·co·her·ent, adjectivenon·co·her·ent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for coherent

He said the failure to develop a coherent immigration policy would have a devastating impact.
Pope’s Blistering Attack on ‘Haggard’ Europe|Nico Hines|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The story of the fire was certainly not complete, but it was at least coherent, and three of our halftones adorned Page 1.
The Stacks: H.L. Mencken on the 1904 Baltimore Fire|H.L. Mencken|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Eventually, ISIS will collapse as a coherent and effective force.
Airstrikes Against ISIS Are Tactics. Here's a Strategy|Daniel L. Davis|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These portentous rumblings aside, no coherent position on ectogenesis has emerged so far within the pro-life movement.
The Artificial Womb Will Change Feminism Forever|Samantha Allen|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

These constitutions do not amount to a coherent intellectual tradition.
One U.S. Constitution Just Wasn’t Enough|Tom Arnold-Forster|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The beginning was not at all coherent, but Elizabeth perfectly understood what he meant.
A Noble Woman|Ann S. Stephens
To me it did not appear quite so plain and coherent; but who can be plain and coherent about the Irish Question?
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 1, 1920|Various
It is a mistake to set down Diderot for a coherent and systematic materialist.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4|Various
Those about Eulenspiegel were first reduced to a coherent narrative in 1519.
Folkways|William Graham Sumner
Perception tells the child of things as separate entities, not in their ultimate relations as parts of a coherent whole.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for coherent

coherent

/ (kəʊˈhɪərənt) /

adjective

capable of logical and consistent speech, thought, etc

logical; consistent and orderly

cohering or sticking together

physics (of two or more waves) having the same phase or a fixed phase differencecoherent light

(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 Formscoherently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for coherent

coherent

adj.

1550s, from Middle French cohérent (16c.), from Latin cohaerentem (nominative cohaerens), present participle of cohaerere "cohere," from com- "together" (see co-) + haerere "to stick" (see hesitation).

coherent

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of coherent

Examples from the Web for coherent

British Dictionary definitions for coherent

coherent

adjective

Word Origin and History for coherent

coherent