congruent

American  

[kong-groo-uhnt, kuhn-groo-, kuhng-] / ˈkɒŋ gru ənt, kənˈgru-, kəŋ- /

adjective

1. agreeing; accordant; congruous.

   His testimony was perfectly congruent with the content retrieved from the suspect’s phone.

2. Mathematics. of or relating to two numbers related by a congruence.

3. Geometry. (of figures) coinciding at all points when superimposed.

   congruent triangles.

4. Chemistry. (of a substance or compound) not undergoing a change in composition when undergoing a reaction, as with congruent melting.

---

congruent British  

/ ˈkɒŋɡrʊənt /

adjective

1. agreeing; corresponding; congruous

2. having identical shapes so that all parts correspond Compare similar

   congruent triangles

3. of or concerning two integers related by a congruence

---

congruent Scientific  

/ kŏng′gro̅o̅-ənt,kən-gro̅o̅′ənt /

1. Relating to geometric figures that have the same size and shape. Two triangles are congruent, for example, if their sides are of the same length and their internal angles are of the same measure.

---

Other Word Forms

• congruently adverb
• noncongruent adjective
• noncongruently adverb

Etymology

Origin of congruent

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin congruent- (stem of congruēns, present participle of congruere “to come together, fit in, agree”), equivalent to con- prefix meaning “together” + -gru- base of uncertain meaning (attested only in this verb and ingruere “to fall upon”) + -ent- participle ending; con-, -ent

Explanation

The adjective congruent fits when two shapes are the same in shape and size. If you lay two congruent triangles on each other, they would match up exactly. Congruent comes from the Latin verb congruere "to come together, correspond with." Figuratively, the word describes something that is similar in character or type. Are your actions congruent with your values? If a friend says something outrageous that you don't want to agree with but don't want to disagree with either, say that your friend's idea is congruent with what you think. That way you can agree with him but change your mind later if you have to.

Example Sentences

Nonfarmale’s transfer was deemed perfectly done, but discolored varnish was removed, holes and cracks were repaired, and, as is modern practice, restored areas were made congruent with the rest by delicate watercolor cross-hatching.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

“As a result, there is currently no credible, congruent technical, nor properly margined schedule, cost, and technical baseline that can be accomplished with the likely available funding.”

From Science Magazine • Sep. 21, 2023

But this “Hamlet” has been placed in a frame that doesn’t match what the production actually delivers, leaving me glad to have seen it but wishing for something more congruent.

From New York Times • Jun. 28, 2023

"The effect is congruent with the disappearance of instrumental intros in the grabby era of streaming, but it's also that of a person wanting to get something off their chest."

From BBC • May 5, 2023

There was no denying Jenkin’s inescapable logic: to salvage Darwin’s theory of evolution, he needed a congruent theory of heredity.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee