serendipity

noun

ser·​en·​dip·​i·​ty ˌser-ən-ˈdi-pə-tē How to pronounce serendipity (audio)
: the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for
also : an instance of this

Frequently Asked Questions

Are serendipity and fate related?

Serendipity and fate differ in meaning in a number of important ways. The former is defined as "the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for," and while fate likewise may be concerned with "something that happens to a person," it need not be (in fact, often is not) pleasant. Among the meanings of fate are "an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end," "final outcome," and "the circumstances that befall someone or something."

What is the difference between serendipity and luck?

There is considerable similarity between luck and serendipity, but there are also settings in which one word might be more apt than the other. Serendipity has a fairly narrow meaning, one that is concerned with finding pleasing things that one had not been looking for, while luck has a somewhat broader range (with meanings such as "a force that brings good fortune or adversity," "success," and "the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual"). One might easily be said to have luck that is bad, which one would not say of serendipity.

How is serendipity used in other parts of speech?

Serendipity is a noun, coined in the middle of the 18th century by author Horace Walpole (he took it from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip). The adjective form is serendipitous, and the adverb is serendipitously. A serendipitist is "one who finds valuable or agreeable things not sought for."

Examples of serendipity in a Sentence

As they leapfrog from South Africa to Singapore in search of local delicacies, the authors prove again and again that serendipity is the traveler's strongest ally: many of their most memorable meals issue from the hands of generous strangers … Sarah Karnasiewicz, Saveur, June/July 2008
If reporters fail to keep these files, they seldom luck into bigger stories. Their investigative work typically happens only by design—analyzing the news, for instance—not by serendipity. Michael J. Bugeja, Editor & Publisher, 13 Jan. 2003
A week earlier, the doctor would have had no recourse but to make an incision in the baby's skin to get to a vein—a precarious option now, since time was running short and it would take nearly half an hour to assemble the necessary equipment. But in an extraordinary bit of serendipity, Hanson had attended a seminar on emergency medical care for children just a week before. David Ruben, Parenting, December/January 1996
They found each other by pure serendipity.
Recent Examples on the Web But sometimes serendipity enters the picture, resulting in a happy accident that actually works despite a potentially major screw-up. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024 Although the molten rock still consumed land and property, the water reduced the lava’s pace, but serendipity was on the people’s side. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2024 Facebook Show more sharing options For anyone on the hunt for inspiration or a serious study in serendipity, a double-feature documentary being presented aboard the USS Midway Museum on Monday night may fit their bill. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024 And in a funny bit of serendipity, the bride’s mother discovered their wedding entertainment on a trip to southern Italy the summer of 2022. Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2024 In another act of real-estate serendipity, the broker who picked up the phone told her to stay put, showing up a few minutes later with a big ring of keys. Clio Chang, Curbed, 16 June 2023 His good fortune was thanks to serendipity and one humble store clerk. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023 To me, this unintended example of serendipity in mass media seems like a small glimpse of what’s to come. Kylie Robison, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2023 Juanita’s discovery was a story of serendipity and grit; she was revealed only when a neighboring volcano’s eruption melted Ampato’s snowcap, allowing Reinhard to inspect its summit. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'serendipity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from its possession by the heroes of the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of serendipity was in 1754

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Dictionary Entries Near serendipity

Cite this Entry

“Serendipity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serendipity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

serendipity

noun
ser·​en·​dip·​i·​ty ˌser-ən-ˈdip-ət-ē How to pronounce serendipity (audio)
: the gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not looked for

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