synchronisms

Synchronism, or synchronisms in the plural, refers to the state or property of two or more events, processes, or elements occurring at the same time or in a coordinated temporal relationship. The word is derived from Greek syn- meaning “together” and chronos meaning “time.” In practice, synchronisms are used to describe simultaneity, alignment, or parallel timing across systems, domains, or phenomena.

In linguistics, synchronism is often framed through the distinction between synchrony and diachrony. Synchrony studies language as it exists at a particular moment, without regard to historical change. Some discussions of textual or linguistic data talk about synchronisms as patterns or features that appear across languages or texts within the same time frame, highlighting contemporaneous similarities rather than historical development.

In science and engineering, synchronism or synchronization describes the coordination of independent processes or oscillations. Examples include synchronized clocks, coordinated neuronal firing, cardiac pacemaking, or the timing of mechanical systems. The concept emphasizes timing accuracy, phase relationships, and the maintenance of joint rhythms.

In history and cultural studies, synchronisms denote contemporaneous events or phenomena observed in different regions that illuminate cross-cultural contact, parallel developments, or global patterns during the same period. Such use helps researchers trace how different societies experience time in related ways.

See also: synchrony, synchronization, diachrony, asynchrony.