fortunate

IPA/ˈfɔːtʃənət/
KK[fˈɔrtʃənət]IPA/ˈfɔːrtʃənət/

fortunate — adjective

  • fortunatepositive
  • more fortunatecomparative
  • most fortunatesuperlative

1. having good things happen to you because of luck rather than your own actions or

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having good things happen to you because of luck rather than your own actions or plans; getting or keeping something good that you did not have a right to expect — for example, being born into a loving family, finding a job you enjoy without much searching, or escaping harm when an accident seemed certain.

Example

Kemi felt fortunate to find a good job right after university.

fortunate + to-infinitive for describing a good outcome

The Watanabe family was fortunate that no one was hurt in the fire.

be fortunate + that-clause

Common collocations
  • fortunate enough
  • fortunate to have
  • fortunate position
  • fortunate coincidence
  • fortunate turn of events
  • fortunate escape
  • count oneself fortunate
Synonyms
  • lucky

    more common and less formal; used for both minor and major good outcomes

  • blessed

    implies gratitude and often a spiritual source rather than chance

  • auspicious

    formal; refers to signs or omens that suggest future success, not an existing benefit

Antonyms
  • unfortunate

    the direct opposite; means having bad luck

  • unlucky

    more informal opposite, common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

be fortunate + to-infinitive

be fortunate + that-clause

fortunate + noun

Usage Note

Compared to 'lucky', 'fortunate' is more formal and tends to be used for more significant or serious outcomes. It is common in both attributive position (a fortunate decision) and predicative position with to-infinitive (fortunate to escape) or that-clause (fortunate that help arrived).

Common Mistakes

I was fortunate to find my keys under the sofa.
I was lucky to find my keys under the sofa.
'fortunate' sounds too formal for a small everyday matter; use 'lucky' for minor, casual good fortune.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While all four words describe a positive outcome influenced by forces beyond one's control, they differ in tone and what they imply. Lucky is the most common and informal, used for everyday good outcomes — finding a parking spot or catching a bus. Fortunate is more formal and works best for more significant or serious benefits: 'I was fortunate to survive the crash' sounds more measured than 'lucky' would. Blessed carries a spiritual or grateful tone, implying the good fortune came as a gift from a higher power. Auspicious (formal) refers to signs or omens that suggest future success rather than an existing benefit — 'an auspicious start to the new year.' Providential (rare, very formal) implies divine or fateful intervention behind the timing of an event, as in 'a providential meeting just when help was needed.'

lucky ↗blessed ↗auspicious ↗providential

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • fortunate indeed
  • particularly fortunate
  • most fortunate
  • extremely fortunate

Phrases

  • by a fortunate chance
  • a fortunate combination of circumstances

Prepositions

  • fortunate in
  • fortunate for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'fortunatus', meaning 'made prosperous' or 'favored by fate'. This was formed from 'fors, fort-' meaning 'chance, luck'. It entered English through Old French in the 1300s, initially carrying the sense of being favored by fortune or fate.