happenstance

Blend of happening +‎ circumstance.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhæpənˌstæns/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhap(ə)nˌstans/

happenstance (countable and uncountable, plural happenstances)

1. (uncountable) The chance or random quality of an event or circumstance.

   Synonyms: accident, chance, coincidence, happenchance

   by happenstance

   • 1964, Sean Connery as James Bond, Goldfinger:

     Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.

   • 2001, “People Talkin'”, in MTV Unplugged, performed by Jay-Z:

     Dammit, man this is the gift from God / This ain't happenstance

2. (countable) A chance or random event or circumstance.

   the happenstances of life

• happenstantial
• happenstantially

• “happenstance” (US) / “happenstance” (UK) in Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press.