Word of the Day: Fortuitous

Exact meaning of the word Fortuitous: "Fortuitous" describes something that is to your advantage, not planned, and happening by chance, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. Collins Dictionary describes the word as something as fortuitous if it happens, by chance, to be very successful or pleasant.

The word "fortuitous" refers to something that happens unintentionally and by chance, often resulting in a beneficial or timely outcome. The word "fortuitous" describes an event that happens by chance rather than by intention, often, though not always, with a positive or beneficial outcome.

At its core, the word refers to something that is accidental or unplanned, occurring without design or expectation. While its original meaning was neutral, modern usage commonly associates "fortuitous" with good fortune.


When something is described as fortuitous, it means the event was not arranged, predicted, or deliberately caused. It happens unexpectedly and often turns out to be advantageous, helpful, or timely. The essential idea behind the word is chance, not luck itself; any positive result is incidental rather than guaranteed.

In terms of tone and usage, "fortuitous" is formal and literary in nature. It is commonly used in news features, academic writing, and commentary but is less common in casual speech.

An important distinction, which is often misunderstood, is that "fortuitous" is not the same as "fortunate." "Fortunate" means something is lucky or beneficial by nature, while "fortuitous" simply means it happened by chance, regardless of the outcome. That said, in everyday and journalistic English, "fortuitous" is widely accepted as implying a happy accident, even if that meaning goes beyond its original definition.