Etymology

Noun

1. the act of coordinating, making different people or things work together for a goal or effect.
   • 1919: Robert W. Chambers, In Secret

     Then there's the State Service and the police and several other services. And there is no proper co-ordination, no single head for all these agencies.

2. the resulting state of working together; cooperation; synchronization
   • 1900: Irving Bacheller, Eben Holden, A Tale of the North Country

     We stood dodging each other a moment with that unfortunate co-ordination of purpose men sometimes encounter when passing each other.

3. the ability to coordinate one's senses and physical movements in order to act skillfully.

   • I'm terrible at sports -- I have no coordination.

4. the state of being equal in rank or power.
   • c. 1833: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Specimens of the Table Talk of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

     There are two possible modes of unity in a State; one by absolute coordination of each to all, and of all to each; the other by subordination of classes and offices.

5. an equal joining together two or more phrases or clauses, for example, using and, or, or but.
6. The reaction of one or more ligands with a metal ion to form a coordination compound

Related terms

• coordinated, uncoordinated
• coordination compound
• coordination number
• colour coordination, color coordination
• hand-eye coordination