Agency Dictionary

Synchronicity

nounPronunciation: /ˌsɪŋ.krəˈnɪs.ə.ti/

What does “Synchronicity” mean?

The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.

Etymology

Formed on synchronic with the suffix -ity. The base goes back, through Late Latin synchronus, to Greek synchronos, "happening at the same time", composed of syn, "together", and chronos, "time". In the sense defined here the word renders German Synchronizität, the term the psychologist Carl Jung used in the twentieth century for meaningful coincidences that have no causal link but appear connected through their significance.

Usage note

In Jungian psychology, synchronicity is not mere coincidence: it names an event whose timing carries personal or archetypal meaning. Outside psychology the word is often used loosely for any striking coincidence.

Word family

synchronous
synchronize
synchrony
asynchronous

Usage examples

Because the vocation of designing doesn’t start with the perfect synchronicity behind the simple fact that this publication found you and you found it, maybe even years after it was first published.
Design.0 - Beyond the Surface of Forms
Because the vocation of designing doesn’t start with the perfect synchronicity behind the simple fact that this publication found you and you found it, maybe even years after it was first published.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Design.0 - Beyond the Surface of FormsMay 10, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Rebirthnoun: A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
Resiliencenoun: The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
Self-immolationnoun: The deliberate destruction of oneself, typically by fire. In Archetype.0, self-immolation is the voluntary act by which the phoenix builds a nest of fragrant spices and woods, ignites itself and is consumed by the flames.
clevernessnoun: The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
Immortalitynoun: The quality of being immune to permanent death, living or enduring beyond a single lifespan. In Archetype.0, immortality is one of the five semiotic attributes of the Phoenix: the flames are not an end but a transition, an essential phase of its immortal existence.
collective consciousnessnoun: The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
Mjolnirnoun: In Norse mythology, the hammer of the god Thor, forged by dwarfs and known for its short handle. It is the weapon with which he defends gods and humans.
Abyssnoun: A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
Adversitynoun: A state of severe hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that tests resilience and moral endurance.
Affectnoun: An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.

Also from these editions: terms

Equationnoun: A complex statement or problem involving balancing multiple interdependent factors, variables, or meanings.
Mazenoun: A complex network of interconnected paths, passages, or obstacles designed to puzzle and challenge navigation.
Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
vocationnoun: A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
Decompositionnoun: The natural biological or chemical process of decay, breakdown, or disintegration into constituent elements.
recipientnoun: The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
iconnoun: A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
Stigmanoun: A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
symbolismnoun: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
Desaturationnoun: The progressive loss or removal of chromatic intensity, rendering a color closer to a neutral gray.
Regenerativeadjective: Relating to or capable of renewing, restoring, or reforming biological vitality and structural equilibrium.
target audiencenoun: The specific group of people that a message, a product or a campaign is meant to reach, defined by what they have in common, such as needs, habits or interests.