fortunately
Americanadverb
adverb
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(sentence modifier) it is fortunate that; luckily
-
in a fortunate manner
Etymology
Origin of fortunately
First recorded in 1540–60; fortunate ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
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.
Among their finds is a fire extinguisher dating from 1942, newspapers from the week after D-Day, and a tin of "whole chicken in jelly" - fortunately empty.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
“Our sales are hitting new records at our bars downtown, fortunately, but our costs have risen dramatically.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026
And fortunately for their self-esteem, investors are increasingly likely to buy and sell exchange-traded funds tracking whole sectors rather than individual stocks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026
Fascist regimes of the last century were much shorter-lived, fortunately.
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
But fortunately a simple and logical explanation was handy.
From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
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.
