coincident

adjective

co·​in·​ci·​dent kō-ˈin(t)-sə-dənt How to pronounce coincident (audio)
-ˌdent
1
: of similar nature : harmonious
a theory coincident with the facts
2
: occupying the same space or time
coincident events
Animal hibernation is usually coincident with the approach of winter.
coincidently
kō-ˈin(t)-sə-dənt-lē How to pronounce coincident (audio)
-ˌdent-;
(ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈdent-lē
adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for coincident

contemporary, contemporaneous, coeval, synchronous, simultaneous, coincident mean existing or occurring at the same time.

contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

Examples of coincident in a Sentence

the hard economic times and the coincident increase in crime were a double strain on the city's social services a study to determine whether the areas with the highest family incomes were coincident with the locations boasting the highest percentage of college graduates
Recent Examples on the Web The timing of these changes were roughly coincident with clarification of Information Blocking rules and Epic’s introduction of its own competing product. Seth Joseph, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Another suggestion is that there were two more or less coincident eruptions, one each in northern and southern hemispheres. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2011 The researchers say the onset of rapid warming at the summit is coincident with a weakening and shifting in the polar vortex that began in the mid-1980s. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 15 Apr. 2013 These coincident indicators look fairly good as of on July 1, 2022. Bill Conerly, Forbes, 5 July 2022 The Business Cycle Dating Committee looks at several monthly data series of coincident indicators, those that tend to change at the same time as the overall economy. Bill Conerly, Forbes, 5 July 2022 These two events are coincident with a decrease in the production and activity of stem cells. Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes, 1 Feb. 2022 The tendency of policymakers to date has been to view the harms from internet platforms not as systemic, but as a series of coincident issues. Roger McNamee, Wired, 24 July 2021 Several of our hottest summers in the past decade have been coincident with developing La Niñas. Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coincident.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin coincident-, coincidens, present participle of coincidere "to agree in nature, coincide"

First Known Use

circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coincident was circa 1587

Dictionary Entries Near coincident

Cite this Entry

“Coincident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coincident. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

coincident

adjective
co·​in·​ci·​dent kō-ˈin(t)-səd-ənt How to pronounce coincident (audio)
1
: of similar nature : harmonious
a theory coincident with the facts
2
: occupying the same space or time
coincident events
coincidently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on coincident

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