fortuitous definition - Dictionary

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for·tu·i·tous [ fawr t itəss ]

adjective

Definition:

1. accidental or unplanned: happening by chance, especially giving rise to a fortunate outcome

2. happening by lucky chance: bringing or indicating good fortune

[Mid-17th century. < Latin fortuitus< fors "chance, luck"]

for·tu·i·tous·ly adverb

for·tu·i·tous·ness noun

Word Usage


	fortuitous or fortunate? The word fortuitous means "accidental or unplanned," as in a fortuitous encounter with my old roommate of 30 years ago, whom I hadn't seen since graduation. Nowadays, it is frequently used in contexts where the chance event described has a fortunate outcome. An extended meaning, "lucky," used in English at least since the 1920s, is controversial. Substitute fortunate for fortuitous when the meaning is lucky: In a fortunate [not fortuitous] turn of events, the lost package was found and handed in by a passer-by.