coherent
koh-HEER-unt
/koʊˈhɪərənt/
Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole.
Highlights how well individual parts of a story, plan, or argument stick together without self-contradiction.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'cohaerere', combining 'co-' (together) and 'haerere' (to stick). Coherent ideas ADHERE or stick together into an unbroken chain of logic.
Word relationships
- lucid: Lucid stresses ease of understanding, while coherent stresses inner logical consistency.
- cogent: Cogent goes beyond coherence to actively compel agreement.
- incoherent: Lacking clarity, organization, or internal consistency.
- disjointed: Lacking a coherent sequence or connection between parts.
Commonly confused with
- cohesive: Cohesive usually refers to physical or group unity; coherent refers to logical thought structure.
Word family
- coherence (noun): The quality of being logical and consistent.
- coherently (adverb): In a logical and consistent way.
Collocations
- coherent argument
- coherent strategy
- coherent narrative
- coherent whole
Example sentences
- "Her argument was coherent, linking each paragraph back to her main thesis effortlessly." Essay writing
- "The team needed a coherent roadmap before presenting their project to executive leadership." Strategic plan
Memory hook
Ideas that ADHERE together create a COHERENT plan. Glue holding logical pieces together seamlessly.
When not to use
Do not use merely to describe loud or passionate speech.
Fun facts
- 'Adhere', 'incoherent', and 'hesitate' (originally to stick/stumble) come from the same Latin root.
Related words
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