Hasard

Hasard is a French noun that designates chance, luck, or the outcome of events that occur without deliberate intention and often without predictable cause. It covers both fortunate and unfortunate occurrences that arise from randomness or contingency. In everyday speech, the phrase par hasard is commonly used to mean by chance or by accident.

Etymology and usage context: The term hasard comes from medieval French hasart, a word historically associated with gambling and risk. Over time, its meaning broadened from a game of dice and immediate risk to the broader idea of unpredictable events and luck. In modern French, hasard can refer to the element of unpredictability in events as well as to luck or coincidence.

Philology, philosophy, and culture: In philosophy and literature, hasard is used to discuss contingency, randomness, and the limits of human control. It is often contrasted with intention and necessity, highlighting situations in which outcomes are not fully determined by human actions. The word also appears in scientific and statistical contexts to describe processes governed by chance rather than certainty.

Relation to related terms: Hasard is distinct from risque (risk), which emphasizes known probabilities and potential losses or gains often evaluated for mitigation. It is also related to the broader concept of chance (fr. chance) and to probability, though each term carries its own nuance in use and tone.

See also: Chance, probability, contingency, luck, hazard (English cognate).