circumstance

American  

[sur-kuhm-stans, -stuhns] / ˈsɜr kəmˌstæns, -stəns /

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

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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.

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.

circumstance British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to place in a particular condition or situation

2. obsolete to give in detail

circumstance More Idioms  

1. see extenuating circumstances; under the circumstances.

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Etymology

Origin of circumstance

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

Explanation

A circumstance is the condition in which something happens. Say you were at a business luncheon and you had to suddenly leave because you started feeling sick, your boss might excuse your sudden departure, given the circumstance. Circumstance comes from the Latin meaning the conditions around something. If you are born in a war zone, you're born into a difficult circumstance. If you're making decisions about awarding a scholarship to the most needy person, you'll need information about each candidate's circumstances. If you didn't do your homework because the power was out all night, tell your teacher that under the circumstance, you couldn't see well enough to read.

Example Sentences

And since losses from some of those shorts could be unlimited, the covering of those positions could trigger a stampede of buying, a circumstance known on Wall Street as a short squeeze.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

“Regardless of your economic circumstance, everybody wants to keep their cellphone on.”

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Jo Boydell, CEO of Travelodge, said: "I apologise to all of those people that have had a frightening circumstance."

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

If nothing he has done, at least so far, is likely to rival the outbreak of World War I, that’s the result of chance and circumstance more than anything else.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

It went against everything she had taught him, yet he knew that truth had indeed, in their circumstance, become a luxury.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

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