Occurs at the same time as something else, or occupies the same space or position; aligns or matches perfectly.
From Latin 'coincidere,' combining 'co-' (together) and 'incidere' (to fall on). Originally a mathematical term describing points or lines occupying identical positions, it expanded to include events occurring simultaneously.
Coincidence fascinates humans because we're pattern-recognition machines—our brains are wired to spot connections, which is why we're shocked when two unrelated events align. Carl Jung coined 'synchronicity' to describe meaningful coincidences, but mathematical probability suggests many 'coincidences' are just what random chance looks like when you're watching.
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