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Fortuitous Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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fortuitous

for-tu-itous

🇺🇸 /fɔɹˈtuɪtəs/ · 🇬🇧 /fɔːtjˈuːɪtəs/

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

lucky

Happening by a lucky chance; fortunate. Fortuitous events can often change the course of our lives in unexpected ways.

Synonyms

fortunate, lucky, serendipitous.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
fortuitous

Use this word when something happens by chance in a happy or beneficial way. It emphasizes the randomness of the event.

  • It was a fortuitous meeting that led to our successful collaboration.
  • The discovery of the ancient ruins was completely fortuitous.
fortunate

This word is best used when you want to express that someone has good luck or a favorable outcome. It highlights the positive result.

  • We were fortunate to find a good restaurant at such a late hour.
  • She felt fortunate to have such supportive friends.
lucky

Use 'lucky' in casual or informal situations to describe someone who gains something good by chance. It's often used in everyday conversation.

  • He was lucky to win the lottery.
  • You’re so lucky to have a job you love.
serendipitous

This word is suitable for describing something good that happens unexpectedly while looking for something else, often with a sense of pleasant surprise.

  • It was serendipitous that we ran into each other at the airport.
  • The scientist made a serendipitous discovery while researching a different topic.

Examples of usage

  • The fortuitous discovery of gold in the river transformed the small town into a bustling city.
  • It was purely fortuitous that I bumped into my old friend at the airport.
Context #2 | Adjective

unplanned

Occurring by chance or accident rather than design. A fortuitous meeting is one that was not planned but turned out to be beneficial.

Synonyms

accidental, unexpected, unintentional.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
fortuitous

Used when something happens by a happy chance, often conveying a positive result or outcome.

  • It was fortuitous that we met at the conference and discovered our shared interests
  • Finding money on the street was a fortuitous moment for her
accidental

Used when something happens by chance without intention, and typically without any implied positive or negative outcome.

  • He accidentally spilled coffee on the report
  • The discovery of the ancient ruins was entirely accidental
unexpected

Used to describe something that happens without being anticipated, often surprising or startling.

  • The unexpected arrival of her old friend brought tears to her eyes
  • The sudden blackout was unexpected and caused a lot of disruption
unintentional

Used to describe something that was not done on purpose, often indicating a mistake or oversight, typically in a neutral or negative sense.

  • His comment was unintentional, and he apologized immediately for it
  • The damage to the painting was unintentional but still upsetting

Examples of usage

  • The success of their collaboration was largely due to a series of fortuitous events.
  • The team's victory was a fortuitous combination of skill and luck.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “fortuitous”

Fortuitous is a 3-syllable adjective (for-tu-itous). It is pronounced /fɔɹˈtuɪtəs/ in American English and /fɔːtjˈuːɪtəs/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 6 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #17,481 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'fortuitous'

The word 'fortuitous' comes from the Latin word 'fortuitus', meaning 'happening by chance'. The concept of chance or luck has been a part of human history for centuries, influencing beliefs, decisions, and outcomes. The idea of fortuitous events shaping our lives has been a recurring theme in literature, philosophy, and everyday conversations.

See also: fortuitously.

Rhymes

Fortuitous rhymes with circuitous.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,481, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.