coincidental

[koh-in-si-den-tl]

adjective

1. happening by or resulting from coincidence; by chance.

   a coincidental meeting.

2. existing or occurring at the same time.

coincidental

/ kəʊˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəl /

adjective

1. of or happening by a coincidence; fortuitous

Other Word Forms

• coincidentally adverb
• coincidently adverb
• noncoincidental adjective
• noncoincidentally adverb
• uncoincidental adjective
• uncoincidentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of coincidental¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; coincident + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Everyone involved is careful to point out that any resonance with today’s headlines is purely coincidental because the project took about 10 years to complete.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Any similarities between this site’s pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical.”

Read more on Salon

That synchronicity was too frequent to be coincidental.

Read more on Science Daily

The fake CBP electronic logs were used to advance a politically motivated prosecution against him in Brazil, and it’s hard to believe that was coincidental.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In that regard, analysts also said it’s perhaps not coincidental that the changes come after a management shakeup at the flagship line, with President David Herrera departing earlier this year.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• circumstantial 
• fortuitous 
• incidental 
• unintentional