Chance vs Fluke

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Chance

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Fluke

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Most common: Chance

	Chance	Fluke
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/tʃæns/"]/	🇬🇧 //fluːk// 🇺🇸 //fluːk//
Meaning	A possibility of something happening.	A lucky chance or accident.
Example	She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts.	Winning the lottery was just a complete fluke.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	noun
Collocations	excellent, good, high, give somebody, be in with, have, by any chance, chance of, chance for, fat chance, have every chance, no chance!, equal, fair, good, element, get, have, deserve, arise, come, come your way, chance at, given the chance, half a chance, let a chance slip, take, chance on, chance with, mere, pure, sheer, leave something to, by chance, due to chance, through chance, a game of chance, take your chances	lucky fluke, total fluke, fluke event
Antonyms	certainty, inevitability	-
Common mistakes	Confused with 'change' in spoken English., Using 'chance' as a verb incorrectly., Saying 'a chance to do' when it should be 'chance of doing'.	Confusing with 'flukes' in anatomy., Using as a verb instead of a noun., Mixing up with 'lucky' or 'chance' in contexts.
Usage notes	Use 'chance' when discussing the likelihood of an event. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but avoid using it in very formal documents. It can often be replaced with 'opportunity' when talking about the possibility for success.	Often used informally to describe unexpected good fortune. Not suitable for formal writing.

See it in real clips

Agent Carter › S1 E1

but I never get a chance to make them.

Breaking Bad › S1 E3

and I didn't have a snowball chance of that.

Breaking Bad › S1 E5

And then you'll get your chance.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

but I never get a chance to make them.

Breaking Bad › S1 E3

and I didn't have a snowball chance of that.

Chance

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

It's a billion-to-one cosmic fluke.

Fluke

Frequently asked questions: Chance vs Fluke

What's the difference between Chance and Fluke?

Chance: A possibility of something happening. Fluke: A lucky chance or accident.

Which is more common: Chance and Fluke?

Chance is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Chance: She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. Fluke: Winning the lottery was just a complete fluke.

Can I use Chance and Fluke interchangeably?

Not always. Chance and Fluke are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.