happenstance

noun

hap·​pen·​stance ˈha-pən-ˌstan(t)s How to pronounce happenstance (audio)
ˈha-pᵊm-
: a circumstance especially that is due to chance
They came together by mere happenstance.
happenstance adjective

Examples of happenstance in a Sentence

Our meeting was pure happenstance. We met each other by happenstance. It was an agreeable happenstance that we met.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For some hoops fans, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is about school spirit, shocking upsets, Cinderella runs, the office bracket contest, mid-majors with funny mascots or a myriad of other happenstances that make March Madness popular. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2025 Benson’s approach is more about serendipity than happenstance. Lilian Raji, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024 In that sense, the achievement of AGI or ASI is merely a happenstance along the way. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 The timing of the expulsions, particularly of the ICRC, is not happenstance. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for happenstance

Word History

Etymology

happen + circumstance

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of happenstance was in 1857

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Happenstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happenstance. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

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