coincidence

[koh-in-si-duhns]

noun

1. a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance.

   Our meeting in Venice was pure coincidence.

   Synonyms: fate, luck, accident

2. the condition or fact of coinciding.

3. an instance of this.

coincidence

/ kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns /

noun

1. a chance occurrence of events remarkable either for being simultaneous or for apparently being connected

2. the fact, condition, or state of coinciding

3. (modifier) electronics of or relating to a circuit that produces an output pulse only when both its input terminals receive pulses within a specified interval Compare anticoincidence

   coincidence gate

Other Word Forms

• noncoincidence noun
• precoincidence noun
• supercoincidence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of coincidence¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; coincid(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

Adding to the coincidence, the Colburn School had programmed Sunday in its smaller Thayer Hall, Brahms’ First String Quintet as part of one of its chamber music programs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But for the creators of "Zootopia," these parallels with current events are simply a coincidence of timing for a story intended to be timeless and which took several years to develop.

Read more on Barron's

They note that it’s more than just a coincidence that many major U.S. bear markets occur after a bull market has lasted about one generation.

Read more on MarketWatch

It’s probably a coincidence that O’Connor was 33 years old when he was cast in the role, the same age that Jesus Christ was crucified.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I don't think it's any coincidence that it happens to be physically close to our projects."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• accident 
• fate 
• fluke 
• happening