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.

Fun fact: That Post-it Notes were originally yellow was happenstance, too; that’s the color scrap paper the lab next door had available.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

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

I came to love fennel by way of happenstance; it wasn't love at first bite.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2025

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