What does concomitantly mean?
'Concomitantly' is a formal adverb meaning that something happens at the same time as, and in natural association with, something else. Derived from Latin roots meaning 'to accompany together,' it carries a sense of things going hand in hand rather than merely coinciding. The word appears most often in medical and scientific literature — for example, describing two drugs administered concomitantly, or a treatment's benefits occurring concomitantly with certain side effects — but it also suits academic and legal prose when one condition reliably accompanies another. Because it emphasizes accompaniment rather than simple simultaneity, it implies a meaningful connection between the two events. Writers should reserve it for formal contexts: in casual speech, simpler alternatives such as 'at the same time,' 'alongside,' or 'simultaneously' sound more natural. Its precision makes it valuable where the relationship between two occurrences matters as much as their timing.
adverbIn a way that accompanies or occurs alongside something else; simultaneously or in association with another event, condition, or action.
- Occurring at the same time as and in association with something else; accompanying.
"The drug proved highly effective, though concomitantly it caused significant drowsiness."
"Rising unemployment was concomitantly accompanied by a sharp decline in consumer spending."
"Patients receiving both medications concomitantly were monitored for adverse interactions."
From Latin 'com-' (together) and 'comitare' (to go along with) — 'concomitantly' literally means 'going along with,' which is why doctors love pairing it with drug side effects.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concomitantly
'Concomitantly' derives from Late Latin 'concomitari,' meaning 'to accompany,' formed from the prefix 'con-' ('together') plus 'comitar' ('to go along with'), itself rooted in 'comes,' meaning companion — the same Latin word that gives English 'count' and 'comet.' The adjective 'concomitant' entered English in the early seventeenth century, and the adverb followed as a derived form. Cognates sharing this root include 'accompany' and 'companion,' all built on the idea of going together.
Related word forms
How concomitantly is actually used
Formal register; common in medical, scientific, legal, and academic writing. Rarely used in everyday conversation, where 'at the same time' or 'alongside' would be more natural.
Easily confused with concomitantly
'Contemporaneously' means occurring during the same period of time, while 'concomitantly' stresses that one thing naturally accompanies or is associated with another.