English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

cohesion

koh-HEE-zhuhn

Cohesion (noun) means the act or state of sticking together or working together as a unit. Example: “Team cohesion improved once everyone understood their role.”

noun
1
The act or state of sticking together or working together as a unit.
"Team cohesion improved once everyone understood their role."
"The essay lacked cohesion between paragraphs."
2
The physical force that holds molecules of the same substance together.
"Water's surface tension comes from strong cohesion between its molecules."

How to Use Cohesion

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe quality of sticking or holding together, whether physically (like molecules) or socially (like a team).

Common pairings
social cohesion team cohesion lack of cohesion

Word Forms

cohesions plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cohesion” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Team _____ improved once everyone understood their role.

Etymology

From Latin cohaesio, from cohaerere, "to stick together" — the same root as coherent.

Origin: Latin

Antonyms

Related Words

Rhymes for cohesion

See all rhymes for cohesion →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cohesion” mean?

The word “cohesion” means the act or state of sticking together or working together as a unit. In plain terms, the quality of sticking or holding together, whether physically (like molecules) or socially (like a team).

How do you pronounce “cohesion”?

“Cohesion” is pronounced koh-HEE-zhuhn (/koʊˈhi.ʒən/ in IPA).

How do you use “cohesion” in a sentence?

Here is “cohesion” used in a sentence: “Team cohesion improved once everyone understood their role.”

What is the opposite of “cohesion”?

The opposite of “cohesion” — its antonyms — is adhesion.

What part of speech is “cohesion”?

“Cohesion” is a noun.

Where does the word “cohesion” come from?

The word “cohesion” comes from Latin. From Latin cohaesio, from cohaerere, "to stick together" — the same root as coherent.

Is “cohesion” a common word?

“Cohesion” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cohesion” have?

“Cohesion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act or state of sticking together or working together as a unit.

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial