Fortuitous
mediumPositive tonefor-TOO-ih-tus
adjective
Definition
Happening by chance; lucky or fortunate
Memory hook
FORTUIT-OUS: by FORTUNE and luck — a happy accident or lucky coincidence.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The fortuitous discovery of penicillin by Fleming changed the course of medical history.”
“Our meeting at the conference proved fortuitous, leading to a profitable business partnership.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ discovery of penicillin by Fleming changed the course of medical history.”
Show answer
fortuitous
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Fortuitous is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "serendipitous" or "providential" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "deliberate".
Related GRE Words
providential
Occurring at a favorable or useful time; lucky or fortunate
inadvertent
Not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning
abate
To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity
abiding
Lasting for a long time; enduring and unchanging
abstract
Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
acclaim
Enthusiastic public praise or approval
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