kon-GROO-ih-tee

Definition

(noun) The quality of being in agreement, harmony, or correspondence; the state of fitting together naturally and consistently

Example

The architect was praised for the congruity between the new wing and the original building’s design, as if they had always belonged together.

Word Origin

From Latin congruitas, derived from congruere, meaning “to come together, agree, or correspond” — formed from con- (together) + gruere (to fall or rush toward). The verb congruere was used in Roman mathematics and philosophy to describe shapes or ideas that aligned perfectly. It’s also the root of congruent in geometry, where two figures match exactly.