cohesion
koh-HEE-zhuhn
/koʊˈhiː.ʒən/
The action or fact of forming a united whole; sticking together.
Cohesion is the internal force that holds a group or substance together. It is about unity, solidarity, and resistance to splitting apart.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'cohaerere', meaning 'to stick together'. It combines 'co-' (together) with 'haerere' (to stick), which is also the ancestor of words like 'adhere' and 'hesitate' (originally meaning to stick or get stuck while speaking).
Word relationships
- unity: Unity is the state of being one, while cohesion is the active force or bond that maintains that state of unity.
- adhesion: Adhesion is the sticking together of different substances, while cohesion is the sticking together of similar particles or members.
- fragmentation: Fragmentation is the process of breaking down into small, isolated, and disconnected parts.
- division: Division is the state of being split into disagreeing factions.
Commonly confused with
- coercion: Coercion is forcing someone to do something by threat, while cohesion is a natural, voluntary sticking together.
Word family
- cohesive (adjective): Characterized by or causing cohesion.
- cohere (verb): Be united; hold together.
Collocations
- social cohesion
- team cohesion
- lack of cohesion
- promote cohesion
Example sentences
- "The coach worked hard to build team cohesion, organizing group dinners and trust exercises." A team building seminar.
- "Water molecules show strong cohesion, which explains why they form droplets on a windshield." Physics textbook.
Memory hook
Think of 'co-adhesive'. A cohesive group sticks together like they have been coated in a powerful, invisible glue. Sticking together as one.
When not to use
Do not use cohesion to describe the act of joining two different things together (that is adhesion). Cohesion is the internal bond within a single group or substance.
Fun facts
- In sociology, 'social cohesion' is measured by trust, shared values, and the strength of social networks, and is considered vital for a country's stability.
Explore more words
coherent, unite, coalesce, continuity, camaraderie, attachment
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