noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Australian, UK:/ədˈhɪə.ɹəns/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, US:/ədˈhɪɹ.əns/
CMU ARPABET:AH0 D HH IH1 R AH0 N S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A close physical union of two objects.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Faithful support for some cause.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Strict adherence to the rules is required.
The project failed because of poor adherence to deadlines.
Religious adherence can shape a community’s culture.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An extent to which a patient continues an agreed treatment plan.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The fulfilment of the legal obligation of residing with wife or husband.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: Scots law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
faithful support for a cause or political party or religion
the property of sticking together (as of glue and wood) or the joining of surfaces of different composition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the mutual adhesiveness of cells
a heated hydraulic press was required for adhesion
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: adhesiveness, adhesion, bond
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: stickiness
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin haereō Latin adhaereō Latin adhaerēns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Medieval Latin adhaerentiader. Middle French adhérenceder. English adherence From Middle French adhérence, from Latin adhærentia.
Across languages
Translations
23 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
сцепление
(sceplenie)
— union of two objects
Dutch:
adhesie
— union of two objects
Finnish:
kiinnittyminen
— union of two objects
Finnish:
liimautuminen
— union of two objects
Finnish:
adherenssi
— union of two objects
Irish:
greamú
— union of two objects
Portuguese:
aderência
— union of two objects
Russian:
сцепле́ние
(sceplénije)
— union of two objects
Spanish:
adherencia
— union of two objects
Bulgarian:
привързаност
(privǎrzanost)
— support for a cause
Dutch:
trouw zijn aan
— support for a cause
Finnish:
kannatus
— support for a cause
French:
adhésion
— support for a cause
German:
Unterstützung
— support for a cause
Polish:
adherencja
— support for a cause
Portuguese:
aderência
— support for a cause
Russian:
приве́рженность
(privéržennostʹ)
— support for a cause