something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing; lot or fortune.
the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of events.
the power or agency that determines the course of events.
(initial capital letter) this power personified or represented as a goddess.
the Destinies, the Fates.
the future destined for a person or thing; fate; fortune; lot
the predetermined or inevitable course of events
the ultimate power or agency that predetermines the course of events
What does destiny mean? Destiny commonly refers to a specific future or outcome that results from a predetermined or inevitable course of events. The word can also refer to the course of events itself or to the power or force thought to make such things happen. A close synonym for all of these senses of the word destiny is fate. Destiny involves what is going to happen, what has to happen, or what is meant to be. If a certain future is said to be someone’s destiny, it can mean that it’s destined (foreordained or predetermined) to happen, or that it should happen. Destiny is often thought to be out of our control, though some people believe you can control your own destiny. Destiny is sometimes personified—represented as a person, such as a goddess who has the power to determine the course of events in life. When used this way, it is often capitalized. Destiny should not be confused with density, which is the quality of how dense or compact something is. Example: I believe it was my destiny to be there that day so that we could meet—it was meant to be.
See fate.
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English destinee, from Old French (noun use of past participle of destiner ), from Latin dēstināta, feminine past participle of dēstināre. See destine, -ee
Destiny is what's meant to be, what's written in the stars, your inescapable fate. You might think it's your destiny to own a dog, but your sad goldfish survival rate should tell you that happy pets probably aren't in your future. A noun meaning fate, destiny is synonymous with other nouns like divine decree, fortune, and serendipity. There's no avoiding destiny — it's going to happen no matter what you do. But before you get bogged down worrying about what the distant future holds, remember what Winston Churchill said: “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.”
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One example is Destiny Tech100, which owns shares of SpaceX and other closely held tech companies.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
In other words, when investors trade Destiny Tech100, they are trading the fund’s shares with each other, not directly investing in private companies such as SpaceX or Anthropic.
From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026
He clearly encouraged full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie to venture forward, often inverted, but Spurs barely created an anxious moment for Sunderland.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
SpaceX’s IPO filing has caused funds with pre-IPO shares to surge, with Destiny Tech100 up 15% and Fundrise soaring nearly 1,200%.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
One look into the night sky, and a true believer could glimpse the turning wheel of Destiny.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
