fortunate

adjective

for·​tu·​nate ˈfȯr-chə-nət How to pronounce fortunate (audio)
ˈfȯrch-nət
Synonyms of fortunatenext
1
: bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain : auspicious
made a fortunate investment
2
: receiving some unexpected good
How fortunate we are to get such a nice room!
fortunateness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for fortunate

lucky, fortunate, happy, providential mean meeting with unforeseen success.

lucky stresses the role of chance in bringing about a favorable result.

won because of a lucky bounce

fortunate suggests being rewarded beyond what one deserves.

fortunate in my investments

happy combines the implications of lucky and fortunate with stress on being blessed.

a series of happy accidents

providential more definitely implies the help or intervention of a higher power.

a providential change in the weather

Examples of fortunate in a Sentence

How fortunate we were to find that restaurant! We should try to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Guehi was certainly fortunate to escape with a yellow card, but this wasn’t a tale of burning injustice. James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Frankly, the former is fortunate to have any media deal given the state of affairs in the fall of 2024. Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026 Bill Walsh, the 49ers coach who died in 2007, called it Camelot, and exclusive footage and interviews over the years combined with the black-and-white photography of Michael Zagaris brought it all back to those fortunate enough to witness it. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026 As for the less fortunate school districts, some benefit less than $600 per student from the state picking up their employer pension costs. John Cullerton, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fortunate

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fortunate was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Fortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortunate. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

fortunate

adjective
for·​tu·​nate ˈfȯrch-(ə-)nət How to pronounce fortunate (audio)
1
: coming or happening by good luck : bringing good that was not expected
2
: receiving some unexpected or unearned good : lucky
fortunateness noun

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