noncoincidental

Noncoincidental is an adjective used to describe events, circumstances, or occurrences that do not happen at the same time or in the same place by chance. It implies a deliberate arrangement, a causal link, or a planned relationship between two or more things. When something is noncoincidental, its occurrence together is not due to random probability.

For instance, if two people independently decide to wear the same rare color shirt on the same day without any prior communication or knowledge of each other's intentions, that would be considered a coincidence. However, if they planned to wear that color to signal something to a third party, their choice of the same shirt color would be noncoincidental. The term can also apply to patterns or relationships observed in data or phenomena. If statistical analysis reveals a strong correlation between two variables that cannot be explained by random variation, the relationship is deemed noncoincidental, suggesting an underlying connection or influence.

The opposite of noncoincidental is coincidental. Recognizing whether an event is coincidental or noncoincidental often involves an assessment of the likelihood of it occurring by chance and the presence of any discernible cause or intent. It is a descriptor that highlights a lack of randomness in the observed conjunction of events.