coexistence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Academic / Political
Quick answer
What does “coexistence” mean?
The state or condition of existing together at the same time or in the same place, often used for entities that are distinct or potentially in conflict.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state or condition of existing together at the same time or in the same place, often used for entities that are distinct or potentially in conflict.
A policy, principle, or practice of peaceful or tolerant simultaneous existence, especially between different nations, ideologies, religions, or groups.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in spelling or core meaning. Slightly more common in British political discourse regarding Northern Ireland.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with Cold War politics (peaceful coexistence), interfaith dialogue, and multicultural societies.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both, with spikes in academic, political, and sociological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “coexistence” in a Sentence
coexistence between X and Ycoexistence of X with Ycoexistence among X, Y, and ZVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coexistence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The two communities have learnt to coexist despite their historical differences.
- The new software must coexist with the legacy systems.
American English
- Predators and prey can coexist in a balanced ecosystem.
- The treaty allowed the rival powers to coexist without direct conflict.
adverb
British English
- The species live coexistingly in the same habitat.
- (Rare; 'alongside each other' or 'simultaneously' preferred)
American English
- The systems ran coexistingly for a transition period.
- (Rare; 'concurrently' preferred)
adjective
British English
- They developed a coexistence agreement to share the contested land.
- The coexistence model proved surprisingly resilient.
American English
- A coexistence policy was essential for de-escalation.
- They sought a coexistence framework for the diverse user groups.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might refer to competing products/services coexisting in a market niche.
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, history, and religious studies to describe societal or international relations.
Everyday
Used in discussions about community relations, multiculturalism, or sharing space/resources.
Technical
In ecology: species coexistence. In computing: coexistence of different systems/protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coexistence”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coexistence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coexistence”
- Misspelling as 'co-existence' (hyphen is generally archaic).
- Using it to mean 'cooperation' or 'harmony'—it denotes mere simultaneous existence, not necessarily positive interaction.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Coexistence means existing together at the same time/place, which can be peaceful, tense, or indifferent. Harmony implies a positive, agreeable, and often cooperative relationship.
Yes. It can be used for technologies, systems, ideas, animals, plants, etc. (e.g., 'the coexistence of two operating systems on one computer').
By far, 'peaceful coexistence'. It is a fixed political phrase from the Cold War era.
In everyday language, the verb 'coexist' is likely more frequent. The noun 'coexistence' is more formal and typical of academic or political discourse.
The state or condition of existing together at the same time or in the same place, often used for entities that are distinct or potentially in conflict.
Coexistence is usually formal / academic / political in register.
Coexistence: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊ.ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊ.ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An uneasy coexistence”
- “A fragile coexistence”
- “To live in peaceful coexistence”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CO-EXIST-ENCE' = the state (-ence) of existing (exist) together (co-).
Conceptual Metaphor
PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IS A FRAGILE BRIDGE / COEXISTENCE IS SHARING A HOUSE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'species coexistence' a technical concept?