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coincidentalhappening by chance; occurring at the same time but not necessarily connected

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: happening by chance; occurring at the same time but not necessarily connected

Pronunciation (IPA): /koʊˌɪnsɪˈdentl/

Example Sentences

  • Is it coincidental that my pizza delivery guy is also my math teacher?
  • The timing of their resignation was hardly coincidental.
  • It's purely coincidental that we both brought sandwiches for lunch.

coincidental

ADJECTIVE

[/koʊˌɪnsɪˈdentl/]

happening by chance; occurring at the same time but not necessarily connected

Their coincidental meeting at the airport felt almost like fate.
💡 Concept

Their coincidental meeting at the airport felt almost like fate.

Coincidental dental visit reveals mental stress!
🎵 Rhyme

Coincidental dental visit reveals mental stress!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/koʊˌɪnsɪˈdentl/
🇬🇧 UK/kəʊˌɪnsɪˈdentl/

🌳Etymology

Prefixco--
Rootincid
Suffix--al

Origin

Derived from Latin, the word developed from the meaning 'to fall together' or 'to occur at the same time.' The term combines the Latin prefix co- (together) with incidere (to fall upon), originally describing events that happened to occur simultaneously by chance.

Breakdown

co- (together) + incidere (to fall upon, happen) + -al (adjective suffix forming adjectives from nouns). The base 'coincide' literally means 'to fall together,' with the suffix -al converting it to an adjective describing something occurring by chance.

🎵Rhyme

identaldentalmentalrental
idental
dental
mental
rental

🔗Collocations

purely coincidental
coincidental meeting
coincidental occurrence
coincidental timing
seemingly coincidental
hardly coincidental

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

Is it coincidental that my pizza delivery guy is also my math teacher?

The timing of their resignation was hardly coincidental.

It's purely coincidental that we both brought sandwiches for lunch.

The coincidental discovery of oil on his farm made him rich overnight.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

accidentalchancefortuitousserendipitousrandom

Antonyms

intentionalplanneddeliberate

Related

coincidencecoincidesimultaneousconcurrent

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