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Coincidence vs. Happenstance: What's the Difference?

Coincidence and Happenstance Definitions

Coincidence

The state or fact of occupying the same relative position or area in space.

Happenstance

A chance circumstance
"I drove loops around the nearby parish school ... hoping to bump into her casually and claim it was mere happenstance" (Hart Seely).

Coincidence

A sequence of events that although accidental seems to have been planned or arranged.

Happenstance

(uncountable) The chance or random quality of an event or circumstance.
By happenstance

Coincidence

Of objects, the property of being coincident; occurring at the same time or place.
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Happenstance

(countable) A chance or random event or circumstance.
Our meeting today was a happenstance, but I'm glad we crossed paths.
The happenstances of life

Coincidence

Of events, the appearance of a meaningful connection when there is none.
That the two writers were born and died on the same day is just a coincidence, although there are many conspiracy theories about it.

Happenstance

An event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental

Coincidence

(analysis) A coincidence point.

Coincidence

(geometry) A fixed point of a correspondence; a point of a variety corresponding to itself under a correspondence.
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Coincidence

The condition of occupying the same place in space; as, the coincidence of circles, surfaces, etc.

Coincidence

The condition or fact of happening at the same time; as, the coincidence of the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

Coincidence

Exact correspondence in nature, character, result, circumstances, etc.; concurrence; agreement.
The very concurrence and coincidence of so many evidences . . . carries a great weight.
Those who discourse . . . of the nature of truth . . . affirm a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness.

Coincidence

An event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental

Coincidence

The quality of occupying the same position or area in space;
He waited for the coincidence of the target and the cross hairs

Coincidence

The temporal property of two things happening at the same time;
The interval determining the coincidence gate is adjustable

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