(usu in pl, but treated as sing. or pl) a state of affairs; the situation one finds oneself in and for which one is not responsible

a victim of circumstances

He claimed he was a victim of circumstances and had had no option but to steal

(in pl) one's situation with regard to material or financial welfare

He was living in easy circumstances

a condition or event that accompanies, causes, or determines another, or the totality of such conditions or events

There was a period of rapid change in economic circumstance

a fact or detail pertinent to an event, story, etc; an incident viewed as part of a narrative or course of events

something that happens by chance

It was just an unfortunate circumstance that she was there too

an occurrence

Open rebellion was a rare circumstance