circumstance

[sur-kuhm-stans, -stuhns]

noun

1. a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner, agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor.

   Do not judge his behavior without considering every circumstance.

2. Usually circumstances the existing conditions or state of affairs surrounding and affecting an agent.

   Circumstances permitting, we sail on Monday.

3. an unessential or secondary accompaniment of any fact or event; minor detail.

   The author dwells on circumstances rather than essentials.

4. circumstances, the condition or state of a person with respect to income and material welfare.

   a family in reduced circumstances.

5. an incident or occurrence.

   His arrival was a fortunate circumstance.

6. detailed or circuitous narration; specification of particulars.

   The speaker expatiated with great circumstance upon his theme.

7. Archaic.,  ceremonious accompaniment or display.

   pomp and circumstance.

   Synonyms: things, situation, conditions

verb (used with object)

circumstanced, circumstancing 

1. to place in particular circumstances or relations.

   The company was favorably circumstanced by the rise in tariffs.

2. Obsolete.

   1. to furnish with details.

   2. to control or guide by circumstances.

circumstance

/ ˈsɜːkəmstəns /

noun

1. (usually plural) a condition of time, place, etc, that accompanies or influences an event or condition

2. an incident or occurrence, esp a chance one

3. accessory information or detail

4. formal display or ceremony (archaic except in the phrase pomp and circumstance )

5. in no case; never

6. because of conditions; this being the case

7. (of a person) in a bad financial situation

8. (of a person) in a good financial situation

verb

1. to place in a particular condition or situation

2. obsolete,  to give in detail

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumstance¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin circumstantia ( circumstant-, stem of circumstāns, present participle of circumstāre “to stand round”), equivalent to circum- circum- + stā- stand + -nt present participle suffix + -ia noun suffix; -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumstance¹

C13: from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstāre to stand around, from _circum- + stāre to stand

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under the circumstances, because of the conditions; as the case stands: Also in the circumstances.

   Under the circumstances, there is little hope for an early settlement.

2. under no circumstances, regardless of events or conditions; never.

   Under no circumstances should you see them again.

see extenuating circumstances; under the circumstances.

Example Sentences

It centred around the case of John Hirst, a man convicted of manslaughter, who argued the UK's blanket ban on prisoners voting in any circumstances was a breach of human rights.

Read more on BBC

The former police officer and his mother Mala successfully sought asylum in the UK after they fled their South East Asian homeland in circumstances they asked not to discuss in public for their own safety.

Read more on BBC

"We are here tomorrow to come and play our brand of football in difficult circumstances, in an incredible place like Wembley," said Bellamy.

Read more on BBC

WhatsApp does offer end-to-end encryption of messages and calls but, according to its policy, it can share meta data - such as message or call logs - with governments under legally valid circumstances.

Read more on BBC

Those rules are only waived in extraordinary circumstances.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accident 
• action 
• case 
• cause 
• coincidence 
• crisis 
• detail 
• event 
• fact 
• factor 
• fate 
• incident 
• matter 
• occurrence 
• status 
• thing 
• time