confluence
/ˈkɒn.flu.əns/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The meeting or joining of two or more things, especially rivers or ideas. It can also mean the point where they come together.
- The confluence of the rivers created a wide lake.
- We saw a confluence of ideas in the report.
- The town sits near the confluence of two streams.
Adinary Nuance
Confluence is more specific than meeting or combination. It often suggests two or more separate things flowing together into one place or result. Writers use it for rivers, events, trends, or ideas, especially in formal or academic writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự hợp lưu
- Spanish
- confluencia
- Chinese
- 汇合
- Japanese
- 合流
- Korean
- 합류
Etymology
Confluence comes from Late Latin confluere, meaning 'to flow together'. It entered English in the 15th century, first for rivers and later for ideas and events.
Common phrases
confluence of riversconfluence of factorsat the confluencea confluence of ideas
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is confluence a formal word?
- Yes. It sounds formal and is common in academic, scientific, and business writing.
- What is the difference between confluence and convergence?
- Confluence means things come together at one point. Convergence often means they become more similar or move toward the same goal.
- Can I use confluence for ideas?
- Yes. It is often used for ideas, events, or trends that come together and create one result.