What does "coordination" mean?

1. (organizing people or things) the act of making different people, groups, or parts work together to achieve a goal. 2. (physical movement) the ability to move different parts of your body together smoothly and accurately. 3. (grammar) joining two equal parts of a sentence using words like 'and', 'but', or 'or'. 4. (chemistry) the way a central metal atom bonds with other molecules around it.

How do you use "coordination"?

Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'of'. Commonly modified by adjectives like 'hand-eye' or 'physical'. Contrasted with 'subordination' in linguistic analysis. Often appears in the phrase 'coordination compound' or 'coordination number'.

coordination

US //koʊˌɔɹdəˈneɪʃən// UK //kəʊˈɔːdɪnˈeɪʃən// co·or·di·na·tion

1 organizing people or things (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of making different people, groups, or parts work together to achieve a goal.

the organized integration of diverse elements or participants into a harmonious or efficient relationship.

Example

The project failed because there was no coordination between the different departments.

Example

Effective disaster relief requires seamless coordination between international NGOs, local government agencies, and military logistics teams.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'of'.
- disorganization
- chaos
2 physical movement (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the ability to move different parts of your body together smoothly and accurately.

the ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently, often involving sensory feedback.

Example

Playing video games can actually help improve your hand-eye coordination.

Example

The gymnast displayed incredible coordination, executing a complex series of flips and landings with perfect precision.

Usage

Commonly modified by adjectives like 'hand-eye' or 'physical'.
- clumsiness

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3 grammar (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Technical Science

joining two equal parts of a sentence using words like 'and', 'but', or 'or'.

the grammatical joining of two or more words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank, typically using a coordinating conjunction.

Example

In the sentence 'I like tea and he likes coffee', the two parts are joined by coordination.

Example

The author's heavy use of coordination rather than subordination gives the prose a rhythmic, almost biblical quality.

Usage

Contrasted with 'subordination' in linguistic analysis.

Teacher's tip

This is a technical term for teachers; students usually just learn the word 'conjunctions'.
- conjunction
- linking
- subordination
4 chemistry (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

the way a central metal atom bonds with other molecules around it.

the formation of a complex in which a central metal atom or ion is surrounded by a set of bonded molecules or ions called ligands.

Example

The scientist studied the coordination of the metal ions in the new liquid.

Example

The coordination number of the central cobalt atom determines the specific geometric shape of the resulting molecular complex.

Usage

Often appears in the phrase 'coordination compound' or 'coordination number'.
- complexation
- bonding

Origin

From Middle French coordination, from Late Latin coōrdinātiōnem (accusative of coōrdinātiō), from con- + ōrdinātiō. Morphologically coordinate + -ion.