Fortuitous
adj.hopeful, joyfulformal
What it means
Happening by chance and bringing a welcome result.
Reach for it when describing a welcome result that happened by chance
A fortuitous meeting led the two researchers to collaborate.
Choose between these
6- everyday
casual speech should credit chance
not when Lucky is too informal for careful analysis.
- warm
good luck is the important quality
not when A fortunate person or condition need not involve chance timing.
- professional
chance
neutral accident is all that evidence supports
not when Chance does not say the outcome was welcome.
- formal
timing is especially useful
not when Opportune timing can be planned rather than accidental.
- literary
providential
the event feels guided by benevolent purpose
not when Providential introduces a religious interpretation.
- literary
an accidental discovery brings value
not when Serendipitous implies discovery, not every lucky event.
Said against
3- planned
- unfortunate
- ill-timed
It naturally appears in
3- fortuitous meeting
A fortuitous meeting began the collaboration.
- fortuitous discovery
The survey made a fortuitous discovery.
- fortuitous timing
Fortuitous timing kept the road open.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective sense: occurring by chance, often fortunately opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.