adherence

noun

ad·​her·​ence ad-ˈhir-ən(t)s How to pronounce adherence (audio)
əd-
Synonyms of adherence
1
: the act, action, or quality of adhering
adherence of paint to wood
2
: steady or faithful attachment : fidelity
adherence to a political party

Synonyms of adherence

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Examples of adherence in a Sentence

you'd think these refrigerator magnets would have better adherence—they fall off every time I open the door adherence to convention requires that the couple send out formal wedding invitations
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Better adherence and earlier intervention can help prevent costly complications that drive healthcare spending, including hospitalizations, emergency-room visits and disease progression. — Joel Zive, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 Women didn’t have to follow the diet perfectly, though—even moderate adherence was associated with lower cardiovascular risk. — Allison Forsyth, HEALTH, 20 Aug. 2026 Government agencies should be expected to demonstrate the same commitment to competence, transparency, and adherence to the law. — Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026 Building toward that requires connecting physical environment signals to downstream prescription and adherence data. — Kamya Elawadhi, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adherence

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French adherance, aerdaunce, aherdance "act of adhering, faction, supporters," borrowed from Medieval Latin adhaerentia, going back to Late Latin, "act of adhering," derivative of Latin adhaerent-, adhaerens, present participle of adhaerēre "to adhere"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of adherence was in the 15th century

Rhymes for adherence

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Browse Nearby Words

adhere
adherence
adherency
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Cite this Entry

“Adherence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adherence. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

adherence

noun
ad·​her·​ence ad-ˈhir-ən(t)s How to pronounce adherence (audio)
əd-
1
: the action or quality of adhering
2
: steady or faithful attachment
adherence to the truth
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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