1
Core quality
Occurring by chance rather than design, often with a fortunate result.
Example
A fortuitous discovery revealed the missing inscription.
fortuitous
/fɔːˈtjuːɪtəs/ · for-TOO-ih-tusadjective
Occurring by chance rather than design, often with a fortunate result.
Use fortuitous to express this relationship precisely: occurring by chance rather than design, often with a fortunate result.
What fortuitous Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
The expedition's arrival was fortuitous: the river flooded the next day.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
The result was fortuitous rather than planned.
Use fortuitous Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
A fortuitous discovery revealed the missing inscription.
The expedition's arrival was fortuitous: the river flooded the next day.
The result was fortuitous rather than planned.
Precision Matters
Fortuitous overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
fortuitous
vs.Means occurring by chance rather than design, often with a fortunate result.
auspicious
Means indicating or suggesting a favourable outcome, success, or good fortune.
fortuitous
vs.Means occurring by chance rather than design, often with a fortunate result.
haphazard
Means random, disorganised, and lacking a deliberate method.
fortuitous
vs.Means occurring by chance rather than design, often with a fortunate result.
predetermined
Means decided, fixed, or set in advance.
fortuitous
vs.Means occurring by chance rather than design, often with a fortunate result.
anomaly
Means something outside what is normal, expected, or consistent with a pattern.
Test fortuitous in Context
The helpful encounter happened by chance.
1
A ___ encounter with an archivist led the researcher to the forgotten collection.