1
: having good luck : enjoying good fortune : lucky
How fortunate we were to find that restaurant!
They were (very) fortunate to have his help.
It's fortunate (for us) that these documents have been preserved.
We're fortunate in having these opportunities. = We're fortunate to have these opportunities.
We should try to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves.
They were fortunate (enough) to escape injury when their car crashed. = It was fortunate that they escaped injury when their car crashed.
2
: coming or happening because of good luck
a fortunate discovery/outcome
Cite this Entry
“Fortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/fortunate. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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