noun

confluence

KON-floo-uhns

Confluence (noun) means the point where two rivers or streams meet and flow on as one. Example: “The city grew up at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle.”

noun

The point where two rivers or streams meet and flow on as one.

"The city grew up at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle."

"We camped just above the confluence."

A situation in which several separate things come together at the same time, often with a combined effect.

"A confluence of rising rents and falling wages pushed families out of the city."

"Their success came from a rare confluence of talent and timing."

How to Use Confluence

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe place or moment where two or more things come together as one.

When to use it

Formal; the river sense is geographical, the figurative sense literary.

Memory tip

Use "at the confluence of", not "in".

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

convergence → conflux junction →

Common pairings

at the confluence of a confluence of factors a confluence of events

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Can you complete this real example?

The city grew up at the _____ of the Rhine and the Moselle.

Etymology

From Late Latin confluentia, from Latin confluere "to flow together", from con- "together" and fluere "to flow".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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junction meeting point joining convergence coming together combination concurrence

Antonyms

divergence

Related Words

way points difference agreement corner turning combination contrast

Rhymes for confluence

hence fence whence thence Spence valence absence science silence defence essence ambience

See all rhymes for confluence →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between confluence and convergence?

Confluence stresses the merging of things into a single stream or outcome, and is the standard word where rivers meet. Convergence stresses movement towards the same point without necessarily merging, and is more usual for lines, trends or technologies moving closer together.

Can confluence be used about people?

Yes, in the figurative sense: a confluence of scholars, interests or ideas describes several distinct groups or strands coming together. It is a slightly formal usage and suits writing more than speech.

What is the adjective from confluence?

Confluent. It is used both of rivers that join and, in medicine, of skin lesions or areas of disease that run together into a larger patch.

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