coincidence
n. C / Un. a situation where two or more things happen at the same time by chance, but they seem like they are connected. You use this when you are surprised that things match up perfectly without a plan.
n. the remarkable occurrence of events or circumstances that happen at the same time apparently by design but actually by chance. Often used to dismiss a perceived pattern as being statistically random.
It was a coincidence that we both wore the same shirt today.
By a strange coincidence, I ran into my old school teacher while on vacation in another country.
While the detective suspected a conspiracy, the suspect maintained that their presence at the crime scene was a mere coincidence resulting from a late-night walk.
From Middle French coincidence (French coïncidence). By surface analysis, coincide + -ence.
Often follows the prepositions 'by' or 'of'. When used as a countable noun, it typically refers to a specific instance of chance events.
It was a coincidence for us to meet.It was a coincidence that we met.The noun is usually followed by a 'that' clause or a prepositional phrase with 'of', rather than an infinitive 'for...to' structure.