Adventitious
adjective
Happening because of chance, not planned or natural.
The success of the project was adventitious rather than due to any planning.
Often appears as...
- adventitious circumstances
- adventitious influences
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Additional but not essential, coming from outside.
The discovery of the old manuscript in the attic was an adventitious find.
Often appears as...
- adventitious addition
- adventitious inclusion
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
In botany, growing in an unusual place or position.
The adventitious roots of the ivy plant can attach to a wall or tree for support.
Often appears as...
- adventitious roots
- adventitious plant
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
adjective
Happening because of chance, not planned or natural.
The success of the project was adventitious rather than due to any planning.
Often appears as...
- adventitious circumstances
- adventitious influences
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Additional but not essential, coming from outside.
The discovery of the old manuscript in the attic was an adventitious find.
Often appears as...
- adventitious addition
- adventitious inclusion
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
In botany, growing in an unusual place or position.
The adventitious roots of the ivy plant can attach to a wall or tree for support.
Often appears as...
- adventitious roots
- adventitious plant
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Chance Occurrences
Use 'adventitious' to describe events that occur randomly without any intention or inherent reason.
They met by an adventitious encounter at the coffee shop.
Pro Tip 2/3Unplanned Success
Highlight unexpected successes as adventitious when they are not the result of a strategy or plan.
Winning the lottery was an adventitious twist in her life.
Pro Tip 3/3Unpredictable Factors
Illustrate the role of luck or external factors in situations using 'adventitious'.
Adventitious weather changes disrupted the expedition.
Compare with
accidentalcontingentextraneousincidentalrandomsecondaryunintendedunplanned
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Quote examples
Thomas Clarkson
English Activist
It appears first, that liberty is a natural, and government an adventitious right, because all men were originally free.
Quote examples
Thomas Clarkson
English Activist
It appears first, that liberty is a natural, and government an adventitious right, because all men were originally free.
Example 1 of 1
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