coherent
- Logically consistent and clearly expressed so that the parts fit together and make sense as a whole.
- Able to speak or think in a clear, orderly manner (said of a person).
In a sentence
- After the accident she was dazed, but within an hour she was coherent enough to give a statement.
- The report lacked a coherent structure, making it difficult to follow the argument.
Usage note. 'Coherent' describes internal logical consistency, while 'cohesive' often describes how parts stick together stylistically—writers sometimes use them interchangeably, but the distinction is useful in academic writing.
Where it comes from
English coherent · entered English late 16th c.
From Latin 'cohaerens,' present participle of 'cohaerere,' meaning 'to stick together,' composed of 'co-' (together) and 'haerere' (to stick, cling). It entered English in the late 16th century, initially in physical senses before taking on logical and rhetorical meanings.