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Definitions

fortunate

[fawr-chuh-nit] / ˈfɔr tʃə nɪt /


Usage

What are other ways to say fortunate? The adjective fortunate, which describes people or events marked by good fortune, implies that success is obtained by the operation of favorable circumstances more than by direct effort; it is usually applied to grave or large matters (especially those happening in the ordinary course of things): fortunate in one’s choice of a partner; a fortunate investment. Happy emphasizes a pleasant ending or something that happens at just the right moment: By a happy accident, I received the package on time. Lucky, a more colloquial word, is applied to situations that turn out well by chance: lucky at cards; my lucky day.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We know how fortunate all of us are as humans to come up here and look down at the Earth from above," said ISS Crew-12 commander Jessica Meir.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

On Earth, that appears to have happened about 4.6 billion years ago, giving our planet an unusually fortunate chemical starting point.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

The Army—and the nation—were fortunate to have both of them on the battlefields.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

We would all be fortunate if the court were to ultimately approach the present case with that reality firmly in mind.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Considering the fate of so many who had died in the Gilo, he was fortunate.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau