happenstance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The country’s very first poly-friendly city ordinance came about almost by happenstance.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

It wasn’t Hollywood, exactly, but a recent happenstance just might sustain me for whatever lies ahead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025

Marles had met Hegseth in August to lobby him on Aukus, but the latter's office issued - and later retracted - a statement saying there were no talks, only "a happenstance encounter".

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025

Other scientists must then replicate those results, proving that the first results weren’t happenstance.

From Slate • Nov. 14, 2024

Partly by happenstance, the U.S. geneticist James Neel and the U.S. anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon flew into Yanomami country in the midst of the epidemic.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann