What does "cohesion" mean?
State of cohering, or of working together.
Cohesion
/kəʊˈhiː.ʒən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: State of cohering, or of working together.
- Grammar: cohesion is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: coherence, adherence, agglomeration, agglutination.
- Useful contrasts: fragmented school community, political disunity, propagating tear.
- Usage evidence: Grooming in primates increases group cohesion.
How to use "cohesion"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cohesion" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cohesion" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cohesion" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cohesion" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cohesion" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "coherence" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cohesion", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 State of cohering, or of working together. uncountable, usually
"Unit cohesion is important in the military."
- 2 (physics) the intermolecular force that holds together the molecules in a solid or liquid wordnet
- 3 Various intermolecular forces that hold solids and liquids together. uncountable, usually
- 4 (botany) the process in some plants of parts growing together that are usually separate (such as petals) wordnet
- 5 Growing together of normally distinct parts of a plant. uncountable, usually
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 (linguistics) the grammatical and lexical linking within a text or sentence that holds a text together and gives it meaning. wordnet
- 7 Degree to which functionally related elements in a system belong together. uncountable, usually
"In general, it is neither advisable nor possible to create such maximally cohesive classes; on the other hand, we would like cohesion to be high. When cohesion is high, it means that the methods and variables of the class are co-dependent and hang together as a logical whole."
- 8 the state of cohering or sticking together wordnet
- 9 Grammatical or lexical relationship between different parts of the same text. uncountable, usually
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
fragmented school communitypolitical disunitypropagating tearregional disunity
Example
"Grooming in primates increases group cohesion."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cohesion"?
Common synonyms include: coherence, adherence, agglomeration, agglutination, argument cohesion, attraction.
How do you use "cohesion" in a sentence?
Grooming in primates increases group cohesion.
How do you pronounce "cohesion"?
Pronounced /kəʊˈhiː.ʒən/.
Etymology
Attested from the late 17th century, borrowed from French cohésion, from Latin cohaesiō, cohaesiōnem.