fortuitous

adjective

for·​tu·​itous fȯr-ˈtü-ə-təs 

-ˈtyü-,

fər-

1

: occurring by chance

2

a

: fortunate, lucky

from a cost standpoint, the company's timing is fortuitous

—Business Week

b

: coming or happening by a lucky chance

belted down the stairs, and there was a fortuitous train

—Doris Lessing

fortuitously adverb

fortuitousness noun

Usage of Fortuitous

Sense 2a has been influenced in meaning by fortunate. It has been in standard if not elevated use for some 70 years, but is still disdained by some critics. Sense 2b, a blend of senses 1 and 2a, is virtually unnoticed by the critics. Sense 1 is the only sense commonly used in negative constructions.

Did you know?

For its first 250 years, until the early part of the 20th century, fortuitous meant one thing only: “happening by chance.” This was no accident; its Latin forebear, fortuitus, shares the same ancient root as fors, the Latin word for “chance.” But the fact that fortuitous sounds like a blend of fortunate and felicitous (“happily suited to an occasion”) likely led to a second meaning of “fortunate, lucky,” with the seeds of the newer sense perhaps planted by writers applying overtones of good fortune to something that is a random occurrence. The “lucky” use has been disparaged by critics, but it is now well established. Irregardless (cough), employing this sense in sterner company may be considered chancy.

Synonyms

• fluky
• flukey
• fortunate
• happy
• heaven-sent
• lucky
• providential

Choose the Right Synonym for fortuitous

accidental, fortuitous, casual, contingent mean not amenable to planning or prediction.

accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

Examples of fortuitous in a Sentence

… the intensification of competition on the job market has only exacerbated our class anxiety, as hiring seems all the more uncertain if not fortuitous. —Jeffrey J. Williams, College English, November 2003

… he is a brilliant candidate not despite his anti-intellectualism but because of it. He has stumbled upon a fortuitous moment in which the political culture, tired of wonks and pointy-heads and ideologues, yearns instead for a candidate unburdened by, or even hostile to, ideas. —Jonathan Chait, New Republic, 20 Dec. 1999

Her $170, 000 bid on what is now Matanzas Creek's vineyard was accepted. The south-facing slope was a fortuitous find … its worth more than 10 times as much today. —Jeff Morgan, Wine Spectator, 15 May 1996

His presence there was entirely fortuitous.

You could not have arrived at a more fortuitous time.

Recent Examples on the Web

They’re saved by the rising sun, with a fortuitous assist by Sammie’s trusty guitar. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025

The timing is especially fortuitous, with two daughters in college and hefty tuitions to pay. —Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025

The opportunity to stage the play in progress came at a fortuitous time for Morrison, who was having trouble with her novel in progress. —Elon Green, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025

Meng Wei’s timing has proved to be fortuitous. —Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin fortuitus; akin to Latin fort-, fors chance — more at fortune entry 1

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fortuitous

• circuitous
• gratuitous

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Kids Definition

fortuitous

adjective

for·​tu·​i·​tous

fȯr-ˈt(y)ü-ət-əs,

fər-

1

: occurring by chance

2

: fortunate sense 1

fortuitously adverb

fortuitousness noun