synchronicity
C2Formal, academic, psychological; occasionally used in literary or popular contexts to describe coincidences.
Definition
Meaning
The meaningful coincidence of events that seem causally unrelated but are perceived as having a significant connection.
A concept from Jungian psychology describing acausal connecting principles that suggest deeper patterns in the fabric of reality beyond conventional causality; sometimes extended to describe any striking, apparently meaningful coincidence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a perceived meaning or pattern, not just random chance. Often carries a philosophical or mystical nuance. Can be used both as a technical term in analytical psychology and in a more general, diluted sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more frequent in American pop psychology and self-help contexts.
Connotations
UK: Slightly more reserved, often associated directly with Jungian theory. US: Broader application, more readily used in mainstream media to describe any interesting coincidence.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but understood by educated speakers. The concept is more widely referenced in US popular culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] experience [synchronicity] (e.g., 'She experienced a strange synchronicity.')[synchronicity] between [X] and [Y] (e.g., 'The synchronicity between the two events was uncanny.')attribute [event] to [synchronicity]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not a coincidence, it's synchronicity.”
- “A synchronicity moment.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in creative brainstorming contexts ('The synchronicity of our ideas suggests we're on the right track.').
Academic
Common in psychology, philosophy, and parapsychology texts discussing Carl Jung's theories.
Everyday
Used to describe striking personal coincidences that feel meaningful.
Technical
Specific term in analytical psychology for events connected by meaning, not cause.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The synchronicity of his arrival with the phone call was unsettling.
- She studies Jungian concepts like the collective unconscious and synchronicity.
American English
- That's not just luck, it's synchronicity!
- The book explores synchronicity in everyday life.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I experienced a strange synchronicity today.
- He told me about the idea of synchronicity.
- The synchronicity between the two events was too perfect to ignore.
- Many people report moments of synchronicity that feel deeply meaningful.
- Jung's theory of synchronicity posits an acausal connecting principle governing meaningful coincidences.
- The film uses narrative synchronicity to weave together the lives of seemingly unrelated characters.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SYNCHRONICITY as SYNCHRONIZED events with a special CONDITION of meaningfulness. SYNCHRO + NICITY (like 'authenticity' but for sync).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE UNIVERSE IS A TEXT (synchronicities are like signs or messages from the universe). LIFE IS A PATTERNED TAPESTRY (synchronicities reveal the hidden threads).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'синхронность' (simultaneity/timing). Ближе по смыслу 'осмысленное совпадение' или 'синхроничность' (калька, используемая в психологии).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'synchronization' or 'simultaneity'.
- Overusing it for any minor coincidence.
- Misspelling as 'synchronicity' (extra 'h').
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario BEST illustrates the concept of 'synchronicity'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A coincidence is a random occurrence of events. Synchronicity implies the coincidence is meaningfully related, often subjectively, suggesting a deeper pattern or connection.
While the concept is ancient, Carl Jung (with physicist Wolfgang Pauli) coined and developed the modern psychological term 'synchronicity' in the 1920s-1950s to describe 'acausal parallelisms'.
It remains a controversial and largely non-falsifiable concept. It belongs more to the domains of psychology, philosophy, and personal experience than to strict empirical science.
Serendipity is a fortunate accident, a pleasant surprise. Synchronicity is a meaningful coincidence, not necessarily fortunate, that implies a deeper connection or message.