noun

coherence

koh-HEER-uns/kəʊˈhɪrəns/

A stable connection that makes separate parts hold together.

The plant's progression from seed to flower gives coherence to the picture sequence.

Three small sequential drawings show a seed planted, sprout emerging and plant flowering in clear logical order, connected consistent story rather than unrelated pictures.

Etymology

coLatintogether

+herLatinto stick, adhere

+enceLatinstate or quality

The underlying image is things sticking together. Applied to a narrative or argument, coherence means that its parts connect consistently rather than remaining disconnected statements.

In context

Curt Jaimungal124:02

coherence is important, and coherence has to do not with internal logical consistency of your theory, but how it coheres with everything else we do know.

Escaping the Illusion: Bernardo Kastrup Exposes Reality

More examples

Her final revision improves the coherence of the argument.
The waves maintain coherence because their phases stay in step.
The binder gives the compressed powder enough coherence to hold together.

Forms

coherent adjective — Logically connected and easy to understand.

cohere verb — To hold together as a connected whole.

Similar words

cohesion: Emphasizes parts holding together, especially physically or socially.
consistency: Emphasizes freedom from contradictions rather than connections among parts.
unity: Emphasizes an overall whole rather than links between parts.