cir ‧ cum ‧ stance S2 W1 AC /ˈsɜːkəmstæns, -stəns $ ˈsɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin circumstantia , from circumstare 'to stand around' , from circum- ( CIRCUM- ) + stare 'to stand' ]
1 . [countable usually plural] the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc:
The Soviet Union had been forced by circumstances to sign a pact with Nazi Germany.
I can’t imagine a circumstance in which I would be willing to steal.
in ... circumstances
The rules can only be waived in exceptional circumstances.
under ... circumstances
Prisoners can only leave their cells under certain circumstances.
2 . under no circumstances ( also in no circumstances British English ) used to emphasize that something must definitely not happen:
Under no circumstances are you to go out.
3 . under/given the circumstances ( also in the circumstances British English ) used to say that a particular situation makes an action, decision etc necessary, acceptable, or true when it would not normally be:
It’s the best result that could be expected under the circumstances.
4 . [uncountable] formal the combination of facts, events etc that influence your life, and that you cannot control:
He was a victim of circumstance.
5 . circumstances [plural] formal the conditions in which you live, especially how much money you have
economic/financial/personal etc circumstances
Whether or not you qualify for a loan will depend on your financial circumstances.
people living in difficult social circumstances
in reduced circumstances old-fashioned (=with much less money than you used to have)
⇨ pomp and circumstance at ↑ pomp
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ in/under certain circumstances (=if particular conditions exist)
In certain circumstances you may be refused a visa.
▪ exceptional/special circumstances
The court may allow this evidence in exceptional circumstances.
▪ normal circumstances
In normal circumstances, a child’s language will develop naturally.
▪ particular circumstances (=special or specific)
There may be particular circumstances in which this rule will not apply.
▪ difficult circumstances
Many teachers are doing a very good job under difficult circumstances.
▪ suspicious circumstances (=making you think something illegal has happened)
Officers said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
▪ mysterious circumstances (=strange or suspicious)
One of their colleagues had vanished in mysterious circumstances.
▪ unusual circumstances
There were several unusual circumstances that night.
▪ unforeseen circumstances (=that you did not realize would happen)
The tragedy was the result of a series of unforeseen circumstances.
▪ tragic circumstances (=extremely sad and unfortunate)
Both parents had died in tragic circumstances.
▪ extenuating/mitigating circumstances (=conditions that make it reasonable for someone to break the rules or law)
Hunger and poverty are not treated by the courts as extenuating circumstances.
■ phrases
▪ a set/combination of circumstances
This was a very unusual set of circumstances.
▪ the circumstances surrounding something
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.
▪ due to circumstances beyond sb’s control
Occasionally flights are cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control.