coincidence, haphazard, farfetched, misfortune, odds: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Upper-Intermediate set 51. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. coincidence · noun/koʊˈɪnsəd(ə)ns/

   an event that happens by chance

   There's no such thing as a coincidence. Notice how every major event in your life somehow leads up to the next.

   Synonyms: incident

   Origin: early 17th century (in the sense ‘occupation of the same space’): from medieval Latin coincidentia, from coincidere ‘coincide, agree’ (see coincide)

2. haphazard · adjective/ˌhæpˈhæzərd/

   happening in an unplanned way

   The data in this study was collected in a haphazard fashion. That is the sample may not be representative of the entire population.

   Synonyms: arbitrary, unplanned, random

   Origin: late 16th century: from hap + hazard

3. farfetched · adjective/ˌfɑrˈfɛtʃt/

   very unlikely to be true or too exaggerated to be believed

   It was told that the actor spent 1 million dollars on costume but these rumors were considered farfetched by most of his fans.

   Synonyms: bizarre, implausible

4. misfortune · noun/ˌmɪsˈfɔrtʃ(ə)n/

   a bad experience caused by bad luck

   I hope I never again have the misfortune of having to work with someone who is as rude as Mr. Jackson.

   Synonyms: calamity, inconvenience

5. odds · noun/ɑdz/

   the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring

   To do something against impossible odds first requires you to believe the impossible,you have to believe that you can do it.

   Synonyms: likelihood, chance

   Origin: early 16th century: apparently the plural of the obsolete noun odd ‘odd number or odd person’