Definition

Noun: 1. An occurrence that is not planned or intended; an event that happens by luck or coincidence: A "chance event" is something that happens without a deliberate cause or prior design, often perceived as being due to random luck, fortune, or accident.

Usage

The term "chance event" is used to describe an incident or outcome that appears to be random and not the result of a predictable chain of events or intentional action. It emphasizes the element of unpredictability and lack of causation.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Meeting my old friend in a foreign city was a pure chance event.
  • The discovery was not planned; it was the result of a chance event in the laboratory.
  • His rise to fame began with a chance event—a producer happened to hear him singing on the street.

Advanced Usage

• "due to a chance event": caused by or attributable to random occurrence.
  • The success of their partnership was largely due to a chance event that brought them together.
• "sheer/pure chance event": an event that is completely random and unplanned.
  • It was a sheer chance event that the two manuscripts were compared.

Variants and Related Words

• Accident (n): An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury. Also used more broadly for any unplanned event.
  • The chemical reaction was discovered by accident.
• Fortuity (n): The quality of being fortuitous; a chance occurrence or accident.
  • Their reunion was a happy fortuity.
• Happenstance (n): A circumstance especially that is due to chance; a chance situation.
  • Our meeting was mere happenstance.

Synonyms

• Coincidence: A remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection.
• Fluke: An unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.
• Stroke of luck/fortune: A sudden piece of good luck.

Related Phrases

• By chance: As a result of luck or accident, not by plan.
  • I found the book by chance at a small market.
• A twist of fate: An unexpected change in a situation, as if caused by fate.
  • A twist of fate led him to the career he loves.

Noun

1. anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
   • winning the lottery was a happy accident
   • the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck
   • it was due to an accident or fortuity