circumstance - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

A circumstance is the condition in which something happens. Say you were at a business luncheon and you were accidentally fed psychedelic mushrooms in your ravioli, your boss might excuse the weird things you said, given the circumstance.

Circumstance comes from the Latin meaning the conditions around something. If you are born in a war zone, you're born into a difficult circumstance. If you're making decisions about awarding a scholarship to the most needy person, you'll need information about each candidate's circumstances. If you didn't do your homework because the power was out all night, tell your teacher that under the circumstance, you couldn't see well enough to read.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: circumstance

1	n	the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event
2	n	formal ceremony about important occasions

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: circumstance

1

n the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event

Synonyms:: context, setting

Types:: conditions
the set of circumstances that affect someone's welfare; conditions
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

Type of:: environment
the totality of surrounding conditions

n a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

Types:: case, event
a special set of circumstances; hinge
a circumstance upon which subsequent events depend; playing field
the circumstances under which competition occurs

Type of:: condition, status
a state at a particular time

n information that should be kept in mind when making a decision

Synonyms:: condition, consideration

Types:: justification
something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary; mitigating circumstance
(law) a circumstance that does not exonerate a person but which reduces the penalty associated with the offense

Type of:: information
knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction

2

n formal ceremony about important occasions

“pomp and circumstance”

Type of:: ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, ceremony, observance
a formal event performed on a special occasion