happenstance

[ hap-uhn-stans ]

/ ˈhæp ənˌstæns /

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See synonyms for happenstance on Thesaurus.com

noun

a chance happening or event.

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Origin of happenstance

First recorded in 1895–1900; happen + (circum)stance

Words nearby happenstance

happen by, happenchance, happening, happen on, happen-so, happenstance, happi coat, happily, happiness, happy, happy as the day is long

How to use happenstance in a sentence

Which is all some strange historical happenstance, considering Bartini was not actually born in Russia.
Why the Soviet Red Baron Matters Today|Nick Fouriezos|March 3, 2021|Ozy
It was the kind of happenstance interaction anyone would likely write off as a weird New York City occurrence.
In ‘Just as I Am,’ actress Cicely Tyson reflects on 96 years of a life well lived|Tre'vell Anderson|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
When Dawn Aponte came to the NFL in 1991, it was by “total happenstance,” as she recalls.
Kim Ng broke down a barrier — and may help open a door for a female GM in the NFL|Mark Maske|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
He’s shooting the ball and playing with confidence — the rebounding and blocking shots is not by happenstance.
Thomas Bryant is making the leap by controlling his emotions. Westbrook and Beal help, too.|Ava Wallace|January 6, 2021|Washington Post

A series of happenstances and a surprising federal law have contributed to the paucity of NFL games played on Friday, for instance.
The Whole Show’s A Rabbit Hole 2.0|Sara Ziegler (sara.ziegler@fivethirtyeight.com)|December 29, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
All of these differences add up to make each planet unique, a product of happenstance and history.
The Best Map of Mars Yet|Matthew R. Francis|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The success that followed 16 years later was a matter of happenstance, not of strategy.
Fool's Gold|David Frum|February 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Out of the chaos of happenstance they were finding rules of order, certain formulas of behavior, equations of force.
Empire|Clifford Donald Simak
As for deceased, his ontimely evaporation that a-way is but the frootes of happenstance.
Faro Nell and Her Friends|Alfred Henry Lewis
This is contrasted to happenstance decision making based on impulsiveness and wishful thinking.
Sequential Problem Solving|Fredric Lozo
The German was just a happenstance, a castaway in the war for Arzachel.
First on the Moon|Jeff Sutton
But the happenstance habits of nature were steadily being integrated into the control program of man.
The Thirst Quenchers|Rick Raphael

British Dictionary definitions for happenstance

happenstance

/ (ˈhæpənˌstæns) /

noun

chance

a chance occurrence

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

happenstance

Origin of happenstance

Words nearby happenstance

Words related to happenstance

How to use happenstance in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for happenstance