Cohesion

Word relationships

• solidarity: Solidarity emphasizes political or moral unity, whereas cohesion describes general interpersonal stickiness and bonding.

• fragmentation: The process or state of breaking down or being divided into separate parts.

Commonly confused with

• Adhesion: Adhesion is sticking to an external foreign surface; cohesion is internal bonding among like parts or team members.

Word family

• cohere (verb): To stick together or form a unified whole.
• cohesive (adjective): Characterized by sticking together or unit cohesion.

Collocations

• group cohesion
• social cohesion
• foster cohesion
• build cohesion

Idioms & expressions

• stick together
• united front

Example sentences

• "High team cohesion fosters trust and resilience, allowing members to navigate high-stress corporate restructuring smoothly." Team Dynamics
• "Community organizers work to strengthen social cohesion across diverse neighborhoods through shared cultural initiatives." Sociological Studies

Memory hook

Co- (together) + Hesion (adhesive): glued together into a unified front. Sticking together.

When not to use

Do not use to describe physical sticking between two distinct materials (that is adhesion).

Fun facts

• While team cohesion boosts satisfaction and morale, excessive cohesion without critical checks can accidentally trigger groupthink.

Related words

In-group bias, Groupthink, Conformity

Explore more words

coherent, unite, coalesce, continuity, camaraderie, attachment

Also appears in

• Leadership → Collaboration & Teamwork
• Relationships → Cooperation & Synergy
• Relationships → Inclusivity & Belonging