Definition

1. Noun:
   • The occurrence of events at the same time by chance: The fact of two or more things happening simultaneously in an unplanned or accidental way.
   • The fact of corresponding in position or nature: The state of occupying the same place in space or having identical characteristics.
   • A remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection: An event or situation that seems to have been planned or arranged, although it actually happened by chance.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • By a strange coincidence, we were both staying at the same hotel.
  • The coincidence of their birthdays made the party planning easier.
  • It was just a coincidence that we met in Paris; neither of us knew the other was traveling.

Advanced Usage

• "Sheer/pure coincidence": Used to emphasize that something happened entirely by chance, with no planning or causal link.
  • Our meeting was a sheer coincidence; I had no idea he would be there.
• "What a coincidence!": A common exclamation used when someone is surprised by an unlikely simultaneous occurrence.
  • You're reading that book too? What a coincidence!

Variants and Related Words

• Coincide (verb): To occur at the same time or to correspond in nature.
  • Our vacations coincide this year.
• Coincident (adjective): Happening at the same time or occupying the same space.
  • Coincident events.
• Coincidental (adjective): Resulting from a coincidence; happening by chance.
  • Our similar choices were purely coincidental.

Synonyms

• Chance: The way things happen without being planned.
• Accident: An event that happens by chance.
• Fluke: A unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.
• Concurrence: The fact of two or more events happening at the same time.

Related Phrases

• A happy coincidence: A chance event that has a positive or beneficial outcome.
  • Running into my old professor was a happy coincidence that led to a job offer.
• Beyond coincidence: So unlikely that it suggests something other than random chance.
  • The similarities in their stories were beyond coincidence.

Idioms

• "Coincidence? I think not.": A humorous or skeptical phrase suggesting that a seeming coincidence is actually the result of a hidden plan or connection.
  • They both resigned on the same day. Coincidence? I think not.

Noun

1. the temporal property of two things happening at the same time
   • the interval determining the coincidence gate is adjustable
2. the quality of occupying the same position or area in space
   • he waited for the coincidence of the target and the cross hairs
3. an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental