fortuitous

Advancedzipf 2.68

Pronunciation

/fɔːˈtjuːɪtəs/(for-TYOO-ih-tus)

Part of speech

adjectiveformal

Chinese

偶然的；意外的（幸运的巧合）

Definition

Happening by chance, especially a lucky chance; unplanned.

Word family

  • fortuitously/fɔːˈtjuːɪtəsli/(adv)偶然地

Collocations

  • fortuitous meeting
  • fortuitous discovery
  • fortuitous timing
  • purely fortuitous

Examples

  1. 1.Their fortuitous meeting at the airport led to a lifelong partnership. (lucky coincidence)
  2. 2.The discovery of penicillin was largely fortuitous. (accidental but beneficial)

Synonyms

  • accidental/ˌæksɪˈdɛntl/— unplanned, neutral
  • serendipitous/ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtəs/— happy accident
  • coincidental/kəʊˌɪnsɪˈdɛntl/— happening by chance

Etymology

from Latin "fortuitus" = accidental — "fors" = chance, fortune