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Definition of perchance

perchance

/pɚˈtʃæns/
per · chance
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perchance Lexical Profile

perchance Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

By some chance; perhaps; possibly.

Example

"Did you perchance leave the spare keys on the kitchen counter before heading out?"

2

By accident or unforeseen circumstance; fortuitously.

Example

"The two travelers met perchance at a quiet country inn during the storm."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for perchance
Antonyms
View all antonyms for perchance

Word Nuance & Usage

While once standard in Early Modern English, 'perchance' is now decidedly archaic or literary, often used humorously or affectedly in modern writing in place of 'perhaps' or 'maybe'.

• Rhymes for perchance

• Nearby Words

perceptual
perceptually
perch
perchance
percolate
percolation
percolator

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-Norman and Old French 'par chance', meaning 'by chance' or 'by accident'. It became immortalized in Shakespeare's Hamlet ('To sleep, perchance to dream').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Perchance. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/perchance
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