fortuity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “fortuity” mean?
an accidental occurrence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
an accidental occurrence; something that happens by chance rather than design.
1) An event or situation occurring by happy chance, often resulting in a beneficial outcome. 2) The quality of being fortuitous; the state of happening by accident or chance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Equally formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, slightly more likely in formal written contexts (legal, academic, literary).
Grammar
How to Use “fortuity” in a Sentence
[subject] + was + (due to/pure/sheer) + fortuityby + fortuitya + fortuity + of + [event]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fortuity” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- They met fortuitously while queueing for the same film.
- The document was fortuitously preserved.
American English
- He fortuitously arrived just as the meeting started.
- The solution was found fortuitously.
adjective
British English
- The meeting was entirely fortuitous, a pure fortuity.
- They made a fortuitous discovery.
American English
- The encounter was fortuitous, a happy fortuity.
- It was a fortuitous bit of timing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports to describe an unexpected market shift: 'The profit surge was attributed more to fortuity than strategic planning.'
Academic
Used in philosophy, history, or literary criticism to discuss causality and chance: 'The historian debated the role of fortuity versus structural forces.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Occasionally in legal contexts to describe an unforeseen event in contract law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fortuity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fortuity”
- Using it to mean 'good fortune' in general, rather than a specific chance event. 'I wish you fortuity' is incorrect.
- Confusing spelling with 'fortitude' (courage).
- Using it in informal contexts where 'chance' or 'luck' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Fortuity' refers specifically to a *chance event or occurrence*. 'Luck' is a more general, abstract force or state of success. A fortuity can be a piece of good (or bad) luck that happens.
Both involve chance. 'Serendipity' specifically implies a *happy and beneficial* discovery made by accident. 'Fortuity' is neutral; the event could be good, bad, or neutral, though it often leans positive in usage.
It is highly formal and rare. Using it in casual talk would sound unnatural and pretentious. Use 'chance', 'accident', 'fluke', or 'coincidence' instead.
The adjective is 'fortuitous'. Example: 'a fortuitous encounter'.
an accidental occurrence.
Fortuity is usually formal, literary in register.
Fortuity: in British English it is pronounced /fɔːˈtjuː.ɪ.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɔːrˈtuː.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of FORTUNE + UNITY. A 'fortuity' is like a small, unified piece of fortune that happens by chance.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANCE IS AN AGENT (fortuity brought them together), CHANCE IS A FORCE (a happy fortuity intervened).
Practice
Quiz
Which word is closest in meaning to 'fortuity' in the sentence: 'Their reunion was a happy fortuity'?