What does cohesion mean?
Cohesion is the quality of holding together as a unified whole. In its literal, scientific sense, it describes the attractive forces that bind molecules of the same substance to each other — the reason water forms droplets rather than spreading endlessly thin, and why some insects can walk across a pond's surface. In its figurative and social sense, cohesion describes the bonds that unite the members of a group: a sports team, a community, a nation, or a workplace. A group with high cohesion works smoothly toward shared goals; a lack of cohesion signals fragmentation and internal conflict. The word also has a technical role in linguistics, where it names the devices — such as repeated words and linking phrases — that tie sentences into a coherent text. Derived from Latin roots meaning 'to stick together', cohesion carries broadly positive connotations of unity, strength, and mutual support.
nounThe action or fact of forming a united, consistent whole; the tendency of parts to stick or cling together.
- The act or state of sticking or holding together physically (as of particles in a substance).
- Unity or solidarity among the members of a group; the quality of forming a united whole.
"The team's cohesion was evident in how seamlessly they passed the ball between one another."
"Cohesion between water molecules creates surface tension strong enough to support small insects."
"The coach worked hard to build cohesion among players who had never met before the season began."
The plural 'cohesions' is rare; the noun is almost always used in the singular even when referring to multiple instances or types of bonding.
"Different kinds of intermolecular cohesion were compared across the samples."
Water striders can walk on water thanks to cohesion — the same invisible molecular grip that makes raindrops round.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cohesion
Cohesion derives from the Latin verb 'haerere', meaning 'to stick or cling', combined with the prefix 'co-', indicating 'together'. The word entered English in the early 17th century, initially in scientific contexts describing the clinging together of material particles. It shares this root with related English terms including 'adhesion', which uses a different Latin prefix ('ad-', 'toward') to describe unlike substances sticking together, and with words like 'inherent' and 'hesitant' that trace back through the same Latin stem.
Related word forms
How cohesion is actually used
Formal to neutral register, common in academic writing on physics, sociology, and linguistics. In linguistics, 'cohesion' specifically denotes grammatical and lexical devices that link parts of a text together — a more technical sense than everyday use. In physics it contrasts with 'adhesion'.
Easily confused with cohesion
Coherence refers to logical consistency and things fitting together in an orderly, understandable way (especially in writing or ideas), while cohesion refers to physical sticking together or unity among members of a group.
Adhesion is the force by which unlike molecules or surfaces stick to each other, while cohesion is the force by which like molecules within the same substance stick to each other.