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Definitions

fortunate

[fawr-chuh-nit] / ˈfɔr tʃə nɪt /
ADJECTIVE
having good luck
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affluent encouraging fortuitous happy healthy helpful lucky profitable prosperous successful wealthy well-off
WEAK
advantageous auspicious blessed born with a silver spoon bright charmed convenient favorable favored felicitous flourishing gaining get a break golden hopeful in luck in the gravy on a roll opportune overcoming promising propitious providential rosy sitting pretty sunny side thriving timely triumphant victorious well-to-do
Antonyms
STRONGEST
destitute disadvantageous failing hopeless lacking losing needy poor unfortunate unlucky unprofitable unsuccessful wanting
WEAK
adverse sad unhappy untoward upset

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.

“Staff described the situation as heartbreaking, noting the puppy appeared scared and disoriented but was fortunate to have found its way to safety.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

“We’re fortunate to have them, and we’re moving forward together with them,” Carney said of the defectors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

In more than 50 years of covering sport, I've been fortunate enough to take some of golf's most iconic photographs.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

"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

Services in black churches frequently contain a strong mixture of concern for the less fortunate and a call to personal responsibility.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Vocabulary lists containing fortunate

List 6

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100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"

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Tears of a Tiger

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