# cohesive

/koʊˈhisɪv/ (US) · /kəʊhˈiːsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cohesive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. sticking together

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

forming a united whole where all the parts fit or work together well.

For teachers: characterised by or causing cohesion; forming a unified whole through the effective integration of parts.

- The team became more cohesive after they spent a weekend working on a shared project.
- The department struggled to present a cohesive strategy to the board, as each manager was pursuing a different set of priorities.

Usage: Often describes groups, arguments, or designs.

### 2. linguistic unity

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

describes a text where the sentences are joined together clearly so the reader can follow the meaning.

For teachers: referring to the grammatical and lexical ties that bind a text together into a unified whole.

- Using words like 'however' and 'therefore' helps make your essay more cohesive.
- The student's essay was factually accurate but lacked cohesive devices, making the transition between paragraphs feel abrupt and disjointed.

Usage: In linguistics, this specifically refers to the formal links between sentences.

### 3. a connecting element

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a word or thing that helps join other parts together.

For teachers: an element, such as a conjunction or a physical substance, that provides or establishes cohesion.

- The teacher circled the transition words and called them 'cohesives' in the lesson.
- The researcher identified several key cohesives in the dialect that differed significantly from standard grammatical connectors.

## Examples

- The team became more cohesive after the training retreat.
- A cohesive neighborhood is one where residents look out for each other and share common goals for the community.
- The professor noted that while the individual paragraphs were well-written, the essay lacked a cohesive argument to link the various pieces of evidence together.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.