Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Happening by chance, especially by a lucky chance: Describes an event that occurs unexpectedly and brings a favorable or beneficial outcome.
   • Causeless; having no apparent cause or explanation: Describes something that seems to happen without any identifiable reason or prior cause.

Usage

The word "fortuitous" is used to describe events or circumstances that are accidental but result in a positive or advantageous situation. It often carries a connotation of good luck or serendipity. It is a formal word.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The company's success was aided by a fortuitous change in market trends.
  • Our fortuitous encounter at the airport led to a valuable business partnership.
  • The discovery of the ancient artifact was entirely fortuitous; the archaeologist simply tripped over it.

Advanced Usage

• "fortuitous coincidence": A chance occurrence that happens to be beneficial.
  • Running into my old professor was a fortuitous coincidence that helped me get the job.
• Used in philosophical or academic contexts to discuss events that appear random or uncaused.
  • Some philosophers argue that the universe's existence is a fortuitous event.

Variants and Related Words

• Fortuitously (adverb): In a fortuitous manner; by lucky chance.
  • He fortuitously found the lost keys just before he needed to leave.
• Fortuitousness (noun): The quality of being fortuitous.
  • The fortuitousness of the discovery amazed everyone.

Synonyms

• Accidental: Happening by chance, not by plan.
• Serendipitous: Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
• Chance: Happening without design or planning.
• Unintentional: Not done on purpose.

Antonyms

• Planned: Decided or arranged in advance.
• Intentional: Done on purpose; deliberate.
• Inevitable: Certain to happen; unavoidable.

Notes on Meaning

It is important to note that while "fortuitous" describes a chance event, in modern usage it almost always implies a favorable chance event. Using it to describe a neutral or negative accident (e.g., "a fortuitous car crash") is generally considered incorrect or a misuse of the word's connotation.

Adjective

1. occurring by happy chance
   • profits were enhanced by a fortuitous drop in the cost of raw materials
2. having no cause or apparent cause
   • a causeless miracle
   • fortuitous encounters--strange accidents of fortune
   • we cannot regard artistic invention as...uncaused and unrelated to the times