fortune: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “fortune” mean?
A large amount of wealth or money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large amount of wealth or money.
Chance or luck as a force affecting human affairs; destiny or fate, often personified; future prospects or ultimate condition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both varieties use 'fortune' in idioms like 'make a fortune' and 'tell fortunes'.
Connotations
Connotations are identical. Can carry a slightly old-fashioned or grandiose feel when referring to fate.
Frequency
Comparatively equal frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “fortune” in a Sentence
VERB + fortune (make, spend, lose)ADJECTIVE + fortune (small, vast, personal, considerable)PREPOSITION + fortune (by fortune, of fortune, in fortune)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fortune” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Obsolete; not used in modern English as a verb)
American English
- (Obsolete; not used in modern English as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The family's fortune cookie predicted success.
- He was a fortune hunter, seeking a wealthy spouse.
American English
- She bought a fortune cookie after the meal.
- The article warned of fortune hunters on the dating app.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to significant wealth or financial success, e.g., 'He made his fortune in tech.'
Academic
Used in historical/literary contexts for fate or chance, e.g., 'the vagaries of fortune.'
Everyday
Commonly used to describe expensive items ('costs a fortune') or good luck ('what good fortune!').
Technical
Not typically a technical term. May appear in economics or sociology discussing wealth distribution.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fortune”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fortune”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fortune”
- Incorrect: 'He has a fortune of money.' (Correct: 'He has a fortune.')
- Incorrect article: 'She made fortune.' (Correct: 'She made a fortune.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Luck' is a general, neutral term for chance occurrences (good or bad). 'Fortune' as 'luck' is more formal/literary and often personified ('Lady Fortune'). 'Fortune' more commonly means wealth.
Yes. In the wealth sense, it is countable ('He made a fortune / several fortunes'). In the luck/fate sense, it is usually uncountable ('a twist of fortune').
It is an idiom meaning 'a surprisingly or relatively large amount of money', not a literally small amount. E.g., 'The repairs cost a small fortune.'
Yes. All derive from Latin 'fortuna' (chance, luck). 'Fortunate' means lucky, and 'fortunately' is a sentence adverb meaning 'luckily' or 'by good luck'.
A large amount of wealth or money.
Fortune is usually formal to neutral in register.
Fortune: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːtʃuːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːrtʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a small fortune (a lot of money)”
- “to tell fortunes”
- “to seek your fortune”
- “fortune favours the bold”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FORT (strong building) filled with UNE (sounds like 'money' in a silly accent). A 'fortune' is like a fort protecting your UNE/money.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORTUNE IS A FLUID (spend a fortune, pour money into), FORTUNE IS A PERSON (fortune smiled on him).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'fortune' refer primarily to LUCK?