Word
cohesion
Phoneticsco·he·sion, stress on the second syllable
US/koʊˈhiʒən/
UK/kəʊhˈiːʒən/
Definitions
01social or group unity
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic
n. the way that people in a group or society stay united and work well together.
n. the state of unity or togetherness within a social group or organization. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
“The team lacked cohesion and struggled to finish the project on time.”
“The government introduced new policies aimed at improving social cohesion in neighborhoods affected by recent economic decline.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02linguistics
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Technical
n. the way that words and sentences are linked together to make a text easy to follow.
n. the grammatical and lexical linking within a text or sentence that holds a discourse together and gives it meaning.
“Using words like 'however' and 'therefore' helps improve the cohesion of your essay.”
“The student's essay was rich in vocabulary but lacked the structural cohesion necessary to guide the reader through the complex argument.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03physics and chemistry
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the natural force that makes molecules of the same substance stick to each other.
n. the intermolecular force that holds together the molecules of a solid or liquid. Often contrasted with adhesion.
“Surface tension is caused by the cohesion between water molecules.”
“The experiment demonstrated how the strong internal cohesion of the liquid allowed it to form perfect droplets on the glass surface.”
Synonyms
04computing and systems
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. how well the different parts of a computer program or system fit together to do one job.
n. the degree to which the elements inside a module or system belong together. High cohesion is generally associated with robust software design.
“Good software design requires high cohesion within each part of the code.”
“The lead architect insisted on refactoring the module to increase its cohesion, ensuring that each function served a single, well-defined purpose.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“For MONUSCO the project serves a dual purpose: Responding to a public health emergency and contributing to stabilisation efforts by strengthening community cohesion.” “He is also laudably ready to admit when there is no “ready-made answer” to liberalism’s tensions – between, say, a value of community cohesion and a value of welcoming others who are different.” Etymology
Attested from the late 17th century, borrowed from French cohésion, from Latin cohaesiō, cohaesiōnem.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cohesion