fortuitous

By chance, beneficial

Fortuitous means happening by chance rather than design: a fortuitous encounter, a fortuitous discovery.

The word is often used as if it meant fortunate or lucky, and this sense has become widespread: The timing proved fortuitous—we arrived just as tickets became available.

Purists insist on the distinction, but in practice the two meanings blur.

chance

serendipity

Accidental fortunate discovery

coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
happenstanceUnplanned circumstance
flukeChance stroke of luck

accident · randomness · luck · synchronicity · providence · kismet · fate · destiny · probability · odds

favorable

auspicious

Indicating future success

propitiousFavorable for success
opportuneFavorable in timing
advantageousProviding benefit or gain

beneficial · lucky · providential · timely · well-timed · golden · felicitous · promising · hopeful · blessed

unexpected

unforeseen

Not predicted or expected

unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
unplannedNot arranged beforehand
surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment

unlooked-for · accidental · spontaneous · inadvertent · unintentional · unpremeditated · sudden · chance · random · out of the blue

fortuitous

serendipity

auspicious

unforeseen

fortuitous

Opposites

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