Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Fortuitous
adjective
/ for-TOO-i-tus /
Hard
Meaning
Happening by chance, often with favourable outcomes; accidental but lucky.
Origin / Etymology
From Latin 'fortuitus' (happening by chance), from 'fors' (chance). Same root as 'fortune' and 'fortunate'.
Synonyms
Serendipitous
Accidental
Providential
Antonyms
Deliberate
Planned
Predestined
Example Sentence
"The early monsoon onset over Kerala on May 24, 2026 was not fortuitous — IMD's tracking of cross-equatorial flow and OLR indicators had presaged it for weeks."
🎯 UPSC Usage
GS3 Environment / Essay: Use carefully — 'fortuitous' implies chance, while 'serendipitous' implies a happy accident. Distinguish from 'fortunate' (lucky) and 'inevitable' (preordained).
Relevant Subjects
