fortunate

[fawr-chuh-nit]

adjective

1. having good fortune; receiving good from uncertain or unexpected sources; lucky.

   a fortunate young actor who got the lead in the play.

2. bringing or indicating good fortune: resulting favorably; auspicious.

   She made a fortunate decision to go on to medical school.

3. well-to-do; comfortable; prosperous.

   a summer camp for less fortunate fourth graders.

fortunate

/ ˈfɔːtʃənɪt /

adjective

1. having good luck; lucky

2. occurring by or bringing good fortune or luck; auspicious

Confusables Note

See fortuitous.

Other Word Forms

• fortunately adverb
• fortunateness noun
• quasi-fortunate adjective
• quasi-fortunately adverb
• superfortunate adjective
• superfortunately adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fortunate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fortunat, from Latin fortūnātus “made prosperous or happy” (past participle of fortūnāre ); fortune, -ate ¹

Related Words

• affluent 
• encouraging www.thesaurus.com
• fortuitous 
• happy 
• healthy 
• helpful 
• lucky 
• profitable 
• prosperous 
• successful 
• wealthy 
• well-off 

When To Use

What are other ways to say fortunate?

Someone who is fortunate has good fortune or enjoys good luck and success. How is fortunate different from happy and lucky? Find out on Thesaurus.com.