Synonyms for Coincidence: Accurate Alternatives for Every Context
Finding a good synonym for coincidence depends on what you mean by the word. If two unexpected events happen together by chance, chance, happenstance, accident, fluke, and fortuity may work. If you are emphasizing events occurring at the same time, concurrence, synchronism, or simultaneity may be more precise.
For a meaningful or unusually striking coincidence, synchronicity can be appropriate, but it carries a different nuance.
Quick Answer
The closest everyday alternatives to coincidence include chance, accident, happenstance, fluke, fortuity, and concurrence.
Use chance for an unplanned occurrence, happenstance for an accidental situation, fluke for an unlikely result, and concurrence when the emphasis is on things occurring together. These words are related, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence.
What Does “Coincidence” Mean?
Coincidence is a noun referring to an event or situation in which things happen together by chance, especially when the connection seems surprising or unlikely.
For example:
It was a coincidence that we both chose the same restaurant.
The word can also refer more neutrally to things occurring together or corresponding in time. Merriam-Webster distinguishes the sense involving accidental events that seem connected from the broader idea of coinciding, while Cambridge emphasizes similar events occurring at the same time in an unlikely or surprising way.
Pronunciation
- US: /koʊˈɪn.sɪ.dəns/
- UK: /kəʊˈɪn.sɪ.dəns/
Word Origin
Coincidence comes from Medieval Latin coincidentia, from coincidere, meaning roughly “to agree” or “coincide.”
The Best Synonyms for Coincidence
Not every word commonly listed in a thesaurus is a direct replacement. The table below separates close synonyms from words that are useful only in particular contexts.
| Word | Relationship | Strength | Formality | Best Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chance | Near synonym | Neutral | Neutral | An unplanned event |
| Happenstance | Near synonym | Neutral | Neutral/Formal | Accidental circumstances |
| Accident | Contextual alternative | Neutral | Neutral | Something occurring unintentionally |
| Fluke | Contextual alternative | Strong | Neutral | An unlikely or unexpected result |
| Fortuity | Near synonym | Neutral | Formal | A fortunate accidental occurrence |
| Luck | Near synonym | Variable | Neutral | Favorable or unfavorable chance |
| Fortune | Near synonym | Variable | Neutral/Formal | Chance involving favorable circumstances |
| Concurrence | Contextual alternative | Neutral | Formal | Events occurring together |
| Synchronism | Contextual alternative | Neutral | Technical/Formal | Events occurring at the same time |
| Synchrony | Contextual alternative | Neutral | Technical/Formal | Coordinated or simultaneous timing |
| Simultaneity | Contextual alternative | Neutral | Formal | Several things happening together |
| Synchronicity | Near synonym | Strong | Neutral/Formal | Striking, meaningful-seeming coincidence |
| Serendipity | Contextual alternative | Positive | Neutral | A fortunate accidental discovery |
| Happy accident | Contextual alternative | Positive | Casual/Neutral | An accidental but beneficial result |
| Stroke of luck | Contextual alternative | Positive | Neutral | A particularly fortunate coincidence |
Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus includes words such as occurrence, concurrence, synchronism, synchrony, and simultaneousness for the broader “things occurring together” sense. Cambridge and Collins also distinguish between the chance-event sense and the sense involving concurrence or simultaneous occurrence.
Closest Everyday Synonyms
1. Chance
Chance is one of the most natural alternatives when coincidence means something happening without being planned.
Example:
We met again by chance after ten years.
However, chance is broader than coincidence. It can describe randomness generally, whereas coincidence often involves two or more events that unexpectedly correspond.
Best choice: Everyday conversation and general writing.
2. Happenstance
Happenstance refers to circumstances or events that occur accidentally or without planning.
By happenstance, we ended up sitting beside each other on the flight.
It has a slightly more literary or polished feel than ordinary chance.
Best choice: Narrative, descriptive, and thoughtful writing.
3. Accident
Accident can describe an event that happens unintentionally, but it is not always a good substitute for coincidence.
We met by accident at the airport.
This works when the emphasis is on the unplanned nature of the meeting. But accident can also imply an unwanted or harmful event, which coincidence does not.
Best choice: Unplanned encounters or unintended outcomes.
4. Fluke
A fluke is an unusually successful or unlikely event that happens by chance.
Winning the competition on his first attempt was a fluke.
Unlike coincidence, fluke often suggests an improbable result rather than two events simply matching unexpectedly.
Best choice: Unexpected success or an unlikely outcome.
5. Fortuity
Fortuity refers to chance or accidental occurrence, often with a favorable implication.
The fortuity of their meeting changed both of their careers.
It is considerably less common in everyday conversation than chance or coincidence.
Best choice: Formal or literary writing.
Positive Alternatives for a Lucky Coincidence
Sometimes coincidence is specifically fortunate.
Serendipity
Serendipity describes a fortunate discovery or beneficial outcome that happens unexpectedly.
Finding that rare book in the small village was pure serendipity.
It is not a universal synonym for coincidence. A coincidence does not have to be beneficial, whereas serendipity is characteristically associated with a fortunate outcome.
Happy accident
A happy accident is something unintended that produces a good or useful result.
The unusual color combination was a happy accident.
This is natural and accessible, particularly in conversation and creative contexts.
Stroke of luck
A stroke of luck emphasizes good fortune.
Finding an available hotel room during the festival was a stroke of luck.
Use it when the coincidence is specifically advantageous.
Formal and Technical Alternatives
Concurrence
Concurrence can mean that events or circumstances occur together.
The concurrence of several factors contributed to the unusual result.
It is more formal than coincidence and should not automatically replace it in casual conversation.
Synchronism
Synchronism emphasizes simultaneous occurrence.
The study examined the synchronism of the two processes.
This is particularly useful in technical, scientific, or historical contexts where timing matters.
Synchrony
Synchrony refers to things occurring or developing together in time.
The dancers moved in perfect synchrony.
It is usually more precise than coincidence when coordinated timing is the central idea.
Simultaneity
Simultaneity emphasizes the fact that multiple events happen at the same time.
The simultaneity of the two announcements surprised the audience.
It describes timing rather than the surprising accidental relationship that coincidence often conveys.
Synchronicity vs Coincidence
These words are related but should not be treated as exact equivalents.
Coincidence generally describes an unexpected correspondence between events, often without a known causal connection.
Synchronicity is commonly used for an especially striking coincidence in which events appear meaningfully connected.
Compare:
Meeting my old teacher in another country was an incredible coincidence.
Meeting my old teacher on the exact day I had been thinking about her felt like synchronicity.
The second sentence gives the event a stronger sense of meaningful correspondence.
Coincidence vs Chance
These words overlap substantially, but their grammatical behavior and emphasis differ.
Chance focuses on randomness or lack of planning:
We met by chance.
Coincidence focuses more strongly on an unexpected correspondence:
It was a coincidence that we both arrived at exactly 8:00.
A useful rule is:
Use chance for randomness; use coincidence for an unexpected matching or convergence of events.
Coincidence vs Happenstance
Both words describe unplanned events, but happenstance often focuses on circumstances rather than the surprising relationship between separate events.
Through happenstance, she found herself working in the same building as her former classmate.
It was a strange coincidence that they had both moved into the same building.
The second sentence more clearly emphasizes the surprising correspondence.
Coincidence vs Fluke
A fluke usually describes an unlikely outcome or success.
His victory was a fluke.
A coincidence normally describes an unexpected correspondence.
It was a coincidence that both teams arrived at the stadium at the same time.
Calling something a fluke can also imply that it was unlikely to happen again or was not the result of genuine ability.
Coincidence vs Serendipity
Serendipity is positive; coincidence is neutral.
Finding my lost wallet in the library was a coincidence.
This sentence is possible if another event unexpectedly corresponded with the discovery.
Finding the rare manuscript while looking for something else was serendipity.
The second sentence emphasizes a fortunate accidental discovery.
Coincidence vs Correlation
These words should not normally be used interchangeably.
A correlation is a relationship or association between variables or phenomena, especially in analytical or statistical contexts.
Researchers found a correlation between the two variables.
A coincidence is an unexpected occurrence or correspondence.
The similarity between the two cases may be a coincidence.
Most importantly, a coincidence does not establish a causal relationship, and a correlation does not automatically establish causation.
Which Word Should You Use?
Choose the word according to the specific meaning you want.
Use “coincidence” when:
Two or more events unexpectedly correspond.
It was an amazing coincidence that we booked seats next to each other.
Use “chance” when:
You want to emphasize randomness.
We met by chance.
Use “happenstance” when:
You want to emphasize accidental circumstances.
Through happenstance, she discovered the opportunity.
Use “fluke” when:
An unlikely result happened unexpectedly.
His perfect score was a fluke.
Use “fortuity” when:
You want a more formal term for accidental good fortune.
The fortuity of the encounter proved valuable.
Use “serendipity” when:
An unexpected event leads to a fortunate discovery.
Their accidental conversation led to a remarkable opportunity—a case of serendipity.
Use “concurrence” when:
The important feature is that things occur together.
The concurrence of the two events was unexpected.
Use “synchronicity” when:
The coincidence seems unusually meaningful or striking.
The timing felt like synchronicity.
Common Collocations with “Coincidence”
Some of the most natural phrases are:
- a strange coincidence
- a remarkable coincidence
- an amazing coincidence
- a happy coincidence
- a lucky coincidence
- a pure coincidence
- a mere coincidence
- a remarkable series of coincidences
- by coincidence
- by pure coincidence
- no coincidence
- what a coincidence!
Examples:
What a coincidence! I was just talking about you.
It was pure coincidence that we arrived at the same time.
The timing was no coincidence.
These patterns are more useful for natural writing than simply replacing coincidence with an unusual thesaurus word.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating every related word as an exact synonym
Words such as luck, fate, destiny, and serendipity overlap with coincidence but introduce additional meanings.
Better: Explain the specific nuance before substituting them.
Mistake 2: Using “fluke” for every coincidence
A fluke usually concerns an unlikely result or success.
Better:
Winning the game with one lucky shot was a fluke.
Not every unexpected meeting or matching event is a fluke.
Mistake 3: Using “synchronicity” as a neutral replacement
Synchronicity often suggests a meaningful or striking connection.
Better: Use coincidence when you simply mean an unexpected correspondence.
Mistake 4: Confusing coincidence with causation
Two events occurring together does not prove that one caused the other.
Better:
The simultaneous occurrence may be a coincidence.
Avoid implying a causal relationship without evidence.
Mistake 5: Using overly formal words in ordinary conversation
Concurrence, synchronism, and simultaneity can sound unnatural when a speaker simply means coincidence.
For everyday English, coincidence, chance, and luck are often more natural.
Real-World Examples
Everyday Conversation
What a coincidence! We were just discussing you.
Workplace
It was a coincidence that both departments identified the same problem.
Academic Writing
The concurrence of these events requires further investigation.
Creative Writing
By some strange happenstance, they met again years later.
Examples in Context
Finding an empty seat on such a crowded train was a stroke of luck, which describes an unexpectedly fortunate event. When a positive result occurs mainly through chance rather than skill or planning, fluke is more appropriate, as in “His success was partly a fluke.” For events that appear meaningfully connected or unusually well-timed, synchronicity may be a better choice than coincidence, as in “The sequence of events felt more like synchronicity than coincidence.”
Antonyms of Coincidence
The best opposite depends on the sense of coincidence being used.
For an accidental event, useful opposites include:
- design
- intention
- planning
- purpose
- premeditation
For simultaneous occurrence, a contrasting concept can be:
- asynchrony
- nonconcurrence
- separation in time
Cambridge’s thesaurus specifically lists design, plan, premeditation, and purpose as antonyms in the relevant chance-event sense.
FAQ
What is the closest synonym for coincidence?
Chance is one of the closest everyday alternatives, particularly when the focus is on something happening without planning. Happenstance is also close, while concurrence is better when the emphasis is on simultaneous occurrence.
What is another word for a strange coincidence?
Depending on the context, you can use happenstance, chance occurrence, synchronicity, or remarkable coincidence. Synchronicity is strongest when the event appears unusually meaningful.
What is a formal synonym for coincidence?
Concurrence, concomitance, synchronism, and simultaneity can work in formal contexts, but each emphasizes a somewhat different aspect of coinciding events. Collins lists several of these for the “coinciding” sense of coincidence.
What is a positive synonym for coincidence?
Serendipity, happy accident, stroke of luck, and fortunate occurrence can express a positive form of unexpected coincidence. Serendipity particularly suggests a fortunate accidental discovery.
Is “luck” a synonym for coincidence?
Sometimes, but not always. Luck describes favorable or unfavorable chance, whereas coincidence emphasizes an unexpected correspondence between events.
Is “fluke” the same as coincidence?
No. A fluke is usually an unlikely or accidental result, while a coincidence generally involves two or more events unexpectedly corresponding.
Is “synchronicity” a synonym for coincidence?
It can be a near synonym, but it is more specific. Synchronicity often suggests an unusually striking coincidence that seems meaningful or connected.
What is the opposite of coincidence?
For the accidental sense, design, intention, planning, or purpose can serve as contrasts. For simultaneous occurrence, asynchrony is a more relevant contrast.
Conclusion
The best synonym for coincidence depends on the nuance you need. Chance is natural for randomness, happenstance for accidental circumstances, fluke for an unlikely result, fortuity for fortunate chance, serendipity for an unexpected beneficial discovery, and concurrence or synchronism when simultaneous occurrence matters. Synchronicity is appropriate when a coincidence seems especially meaningful.
James Anderson is an English teacher and language researcher who creates easy synonym guides and vocabulary lessons. His goal is to help students and writers improve their language skills through simple and clear explanations.
