as in coincidence
formal + literary
something that happens by chance
Our meeting was pure happenstance. We met each other by happenstance.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of happenstance
What was an after-dinner activity with the family turned into Tien’s sport of choice, all from the happenstance of living so close to public tennis courts.
—
Lukas Weese, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
By happenstance, a Quarterra Multifamily affiliate sold another big apartment complex at a nearby downtown Oakland location about a month earlier in December — also at a price that hinted at weakening values.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
An organization’s culture is created either intentionally or by happenstance and will either drive success or derail it.
—Robert Reiss, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
The discovery came by happenstance, as the astronomers were looking for a background galaxy but instead found the individual stars, according to Fengwu Sun, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Astrophysics and co-author of the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for happenstance 
Lukas Weese, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
By happenstance, a Quarterra Multifamily affiliate sold another big apartment complex at a nearby downtown Oakland location about a month earlier in December — also at a price that hinted at weakening values.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
An organization’s culture is created either intentionally or by happenstance and will either drive success or derail it.
—Robert Reiss, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
The discovery came by happenstance, as the astronomers were looking for a background galaxy but instead found the individual stars, according to Fengwu Sun, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Astrophysics and co-author of the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for happenstance
Thesaurus Entries Near happenstance
Cite this Entry
“Happenstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happenstance. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share