happenstance

CEFRC2

/ˈhæpənˌstæns/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A situation resulting from chance rather than planning.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A chance or random event or circumstance.

Examples

  • Were they destined to meet, or was it just happenstance?

  • Our meeting today was a happenstance, but I'm glad we crossed paths.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈhap(ə)nˌstans/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. The chance or random quality of an event or circumstance.

More examples

In context

  • We met by happenstance.

  • the happenstances of life

  • by happenstance

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Meeting my old friend at the airport was pure blank, not planned at all.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

Blend of happening + circumstance. Attested from 1855 in US publications.