Meanings
plural happenchances
- countableinformaluncountableCoincidence.
It may be that some day I will find a respectable population of shells, but that will be mere happenchance.
1955, Henry van der Schalie, quoting Goodrich, “Calvin Goodrich, 1874-1954”, in University of Michigan Summer Session 1955 Announcement, page 12Synonyms: hapchance, happenstance
- not comparableCharacterized by happenstance; chance; fortunate or unfortunate.
The advent of the Son in the flesh is no happenchance occurrence: it has a hinterland of deliberate and necessary preparation.
2017, Iain MacKenzie, Irenaeus's Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, page 142
Synonyms & antonyms
nounCoincidence.
Origin
Apparently from happen + chance, perhaps influenced by happenstance.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
happenchance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/happenchance
“happenchance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/happenchance. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “happenchance,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/happenchance.
Source: happenchance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.