coeval

USAGE SUMMARY

'coeval' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective meaning "of the same age or period." For example, you could say, "The ornate statues were created by two coeval sculptors in the same century."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

In only one respect has the uncompromising monotheism of Islam shown itself to be vulnerable i.e., in the doctrine of the Qurʾān as uncreated and coeval with Allah himself.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A fair-skinned woman who habitually sunbathes, for example, may have a senile skin at age 40, whereas her coeval who spends most of her time indoors may not.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The great Peruvian ruins around Chavín de Huántar have given the name Chavín to one of the most remarkable civilizations in South America and one of the earliest, though it was apparently not coeval with the Valdivia of Ecuador (c. 3200 bc).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Another discovery has brought to light evidence of an early civilization at Ayabaca, in Piura in northwestern Peru, that was probably coeval with the Chavín.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Active normal faulting in central Saudi Arabia late in the Ordovician (between about 460 and 444 million years ago) was coeval with sediment deposition caused by the Saharan glaciation (the Raʾan shales with striated sandstone boulders).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some of these zones are approximately coeval and equivalent to the standard European zonations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

With their towers and battlements, these domestic fortresses of Christendom, built as much to intimidate as to inspire, were close cousins and coevals of the Crusader castles in Turkey and the Middle East, like Birecik, Markab, and Crac des Chevaliers, whose lordly ruins I later saw, always from a distance and always with an unwelcome pang of déjà vu.

The New Yorker

The new novel has less sex in it than Houellebecq's previous works — which is probably one reason that it was awarded the Prix Goncourt in 2010, the relieved judges eager to encourage the author's newfound "respectability" — but even Jed Martin, whose libido certainly has a lower pilot light than his fictional coevals, uses prostitutes.

The New Yorker

You may well react to Stillman's gang of floral belles as they respond to their coevals, yet "Damsels in Distress" casts an unaccountable spell — a cool, thin-blooded charm.

The New Yorker

Pointing out Kate Hudson and her coevals, Martin said how refreshing it was to see so many young stars in attendance, adding, "It reminds me of my own death".

The New Yorker

Now and then it comes to me that I appear to have more energy and hope than some of my coevals, but I take no credit for this.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "coeval" to precisely denote things that originate or exist during the same period. It adds a formal and academic tone to your writing.

Common error

While both words relate to time, "coeval" emphasizes originating in the same period, whereas "contemporary" focuses on existing at the same time, not necessarily originating at that time. Choose "coeval" for shared origins and "contemporary" for shared present existence.

Linguistic Context

The word "coeval" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they are of the same age or period. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis, where it is classified as grammatically correct and frequently used in describing historical or scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "coeval" is an adjective signifying that things are of the same age or period. According to Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct and sees common usage across encyclopedias, news media and science. While "coeval" shares semantic space with terms like "contemporary" and "simultaneous", it specifically emphasizes originating in the same period, differing slightly from "contemporary" which focuses on existing at the same time. For best practice, employ "coeval" to denote shared origin, adding a formal tone to your writing. Be mindful of the subtle distinctions between synonyms to ensure precision in your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contemporary

Focuses on existing or occurring at the same time, often implying a shared present.

coetaneous

A more formal synonym, emphasizing shared age or duration.

simultaneous

Emphasizes the occurrence of events at exactly the same time.

synchronous

Highlights events that are coordinated in time or occur at the same rate.

coexisting

Stresses the presence of multiple entities or phenomena at the same time.

incident

Used when two things or incident happened at the same time.

parallel

Indicates a similarity in development or occurrence over time.

of the same era

Highlights that something belongs to the same historical timeframe.

sharing a period

Suggests that two or more entities exist within the same defined span of time.

from the same age

Highlights that two or more entities originate during the same time period.

FAQs

How to use "coeval" in a sentence?

You can use "coeval" to describe things that are of the same age or period. For example, "The ornate statues were created by two coeval sculptors in the same century."

What can I say instead of "coeval"?

You can use alternatives like "contemporary", "simultaneous", or "synchronous" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "coeval" or "contemporary"?

Both "coeval" and "contemporary" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Coeval" means of the same age or period, while "contemporary" means existing or occurring at the same time. Use "coeval" when emphasizing shared origins and "contemporary" for shared present existence.

What's the difference between "coeval" and "coetaneous"?

The words "coeval" and "coetaneous" are essentially synonymous, both meaning of the same age or duration. "Coeval" is slightly more common in modern usage, while "coetaneous" is considered more formal.