adherence

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Australia, UK/ədˈhɪə.ɹəns/Canada, US/ədˈhɪɹ.əns/

noun

A close physical union of two objects.

“Strict adherence to the rules is required.”

Similar
attachmentadhesionadhesivenessbond
OriginMiddle French adhérence ← Medieval Latin adhaerentia ← Latin adhaerēns →
Less commonScrabble 15
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Meanings

nounadherence (countable and uncountable, plural adherences)

plural adherences · alternative archaic adhærence

  1. countableuncountableA close physical union of two objects.
  2. countableuncountableFaithful support for some cause.

    Strict adherence to the rules is required.

    2 more examples

    The project failed because of poor adherence to deadlines.

    Religious adherence can shape a community’s culture.

  3. countableuncountablemedicineAn extent to which a patient continues an agreed treatment plan.
  4. countableuncountableScots lawThe fulfilment of the legal obligation of residing with wife or husband.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounfaithful support for a cause or political party or religion

Similar
attachmentadhesion
Broader
support

nounthe property of sticking together (as of glue and wood) or the joining of surfaces of different composition

Similar
adhesivenessadhesionbond
Broader
stickiness
Also see
adhesionadhesivenessallegianceattachmentbondconformity

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
  2. Proto-Italic*ad
  3. Proto-Italic*ad-
  4. Latinad-
  5. Latinhaereō
  6. Latinadhaereō
  7. Latinadhaerēns
  8. Medieval Latinadhaerentia
  9. Middle Frenchadhérence
  10. Englishadherence

From Middle French adhérence, from Latin adhærentia.

More words from Middle French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian сцепление, привързаност
  • сцепление (sceplenie)union of two objects
  • привързаност (privărzanost)support for a cause
Dutch adhesie, trouw zijn aan
  • adhesieunion of two objects
  • trouw zijn aansupport for a cause
Finnish kiinnittyminen, liimautuminen
  • kiinnittyminenunion of two objects
  • liimautuminenunion of two objects
  • adherenssiunion of two objects
  • kannatussupport for a cause
  • adherenssi(medicine)
  • hoitoon sitoutuminen(medicine)
French adhésion, observance
  • adhésionsupport for a cause
  • observance(medicine)
German Unterstützung
  • Unterstützungsupport for a cause
Irish greamú
  • greamúunion of two objects
Polish adherencja
  • adherencjasupport for a cause
Portuguese aderência, aderência
  • aderênciaunion of two objects
  • aderênciasupport for a cause
Russian сцепле́ние, приве́рженность
  • сцепле́ние (sceplénije)union of two objects
  • приве́рженность (privéržennostʹ)support for a cause
Spanish adherencia
  • adherenciaunion of two objects
Cite this entry
APA

adherence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adherence

MLA

“adherence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adherence. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “adherence,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adherence.

Source: adherence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.