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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
at the confluence of
a confluence of factors
a confluence of events
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like confluence.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
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".
Synonyms
View more →
junction
meeting point
joining
convergence
coming together
combination
concurrence
merging
conflux
meeting
concourse
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for confluence
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.
What is the meaning of confluence?
"confluence" (noun) means the point where two rivers or streams meet and flow on as one.
