Coerente

Coerente is the adjective used in Italian and Portuguese to describe something that is coherent or consistent. It can refer to reasoning, arguments, plans, behavior, and narratives that are logically connected and in agreement with underlying principles. In everyday language, a person or idea described as coerente is seen as reliable and well aligned with stated values or expectations.

Etymology and usage notes: The term derives from Latin cohaerens, from cohaerere, meaning to cling together or fit together. Through its development in Romance languages, coerente acquired the sense of belonging to a unified, harmonious whole. The related noun forms are coerência in Portuguese and coerenza in Italian, both signaling overall unity and logical unity of parts.

In philosophy, logic, and rhetoric: Coherence denotes internal consistency among a set of beliefs, propositions, or elements of an argument. A coherent theory or argument is one whose parts support each other and avoid contradictions. In discourse, textual coherence concerns how ideas are connected across sentences and paragraphs to produce a unified and comprehensible communication, often aided by referential ties and transitions.

In everyday use: Coerente describes actions, decisions, or conduct that align with principles, rules, or goals. For example, a decision can be described as coerente with prior commitments, or a behavior as coerente with one’s stated principles. The antonyms are incoerente or incoerente/inconsistente, indicating a lack of internal consistency or alignment.

See also: Coherence, coerência, coerenza; consistência; congruência.