Meanings
- One's primary interest in life; livelihood, especially an opportunity to benefit oneself.First known use 16th c.
They had to find a way of instructing the flood of new converts presenting themselves for baptism, some, doubtless, with an eye on the main chance.
2009, Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, Vintage, published 2010, page 1051 more example
Carneades, a worthy successor of Arcelisaus as head of the Academy, was one of three philosophers sent by Athens on a diplomatic mission to Rome in the year 156 BC. He saw no reason why his ambassadorial dignity should interfere with the main chance, so he announced a course of lectures in Rome.
1946, Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, I.26
Cite this entry
main chance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/main%20chance
“main chance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/main%20chance. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “main chance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/main%20chance.
Source: main chance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.