What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
coterminous
Example
The city limits are coterminous with the county boundaries. [coterminous: adjective]
Example
The lease on the apartment is coterminous with the academic year. [coterminous: adjective]
adjacent
Example
The hotel room was adjacent to the noisy elevator. [adjacent: adjective]
Example
The park is adjacent to the library, making it a convenient location for studying outdoors. [adjacent: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Adjacent is a more commonly used word than coterminous in everyday language. Adjacent is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while coterminous is less common and is often used in legal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between coterminous and adjacent?
Coterminous is generally considered a more formal or technical term than adjacent. While adjacent can be used in both formal and informal contexts, coterminous is typically reserved for more specialized or technical writing.