Noncoherent

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Devoid of logical consistency or connection between components while failing to present a cohesive or understandable framework
2. Characterized by a lack of clarity and order, resulting in elements that do not relate coherently to each other
3. Lacking clear logical links or orderly structure so the parts do not form a unified whole

Etymology: Noncoherent is a plain formation: the English prefix "non-", meaning "not", attached to "coherent". The adjective "coherent" came into English from Middle French "coherent", which itself descends from Latin "cohaerens", the present participle of "cohaerēre", meaning "to stick together". That Latin verb was built from "con-", "together", and "haerēre", "to stick", so the root idea of the whole family is of parts clinging to one another. Because "coherent" carries that physical sense of sticking together, "noncoherent" literally describes things that fail to adhere, whether that is a loose heap of material or a line of thought whose parts do not hang together. The prefix "non-" is productive in English and is attached freely to adjectives like this one, so the word needed no special coinage to exist. Its meaning follows directly from its two halves: "not sticking together" becomes "lacking clear order".

Synonyms: incoherent, disjointed, confused, illogical, rambling

Antonyms: coherent, logical, clear, consistent, ordered