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Synonyms

coincidental

American  
[koh-in-si-den-tl] / koʊˌɪn sɪˈdɛn tl /

adjective

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

    a coincidental meeting.

  2. existing or occurring at the same time.

coincidental British  
/ kəʊˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəl /

adjective

  1. of or happening by a coincidence; fortuitous

"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

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of coincidental

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You wonder if she’s the legendary Sandy June or just an employee with coincidental initials.

From Literature

The timing is both coincidental and unfortunate but he is due back after the international break.

From BBC

Together, these clues suggest that the Sun's present location is not simply coincidental.

From Science Daily

"Underlying or concurrent illnesses may be responsible, or the events could be coincidental," it added.

From BBC

Patel, an avid hockey fan, has defended the trip, arguing that the timing was coincidental with meetings he had been planning to attend with the FBI’s European counterparts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.