Fortuitously

USAGE SUMMARY

"Fortuitously" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that happens by chance or coincidence, often with a positive outcome. For example: "Fortuitously, I found a $20 bill on the ground." Alternative expressions include "by chance" and "luckily."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The second was a toe-poke which fell fortuitously to Mellberg inside the penalty area.

The Guardian - Sport

It was suffering from terrible stage fright that fortuitously settled her on the path of directing.

The Guardian - Film

Fortuitously Jan Koum, of WhatsApp, the messaging service for which Facebook is paying $19 billion was also at MWC. Messaging apps have gutted operators of the revenue they once enjoyed from SMS messaging: rather than pay for an SMS, users spend a bit of their data allowances instead.

The Economist

Dissident republicans marked the occasion by attacking a joint army-MI5 headquarters near Belfast with a car bomb which, purely fortuitously, caused no injuries.

The Economist

The blast would have killed him had a metal plate not been fortuitously fitted under the front seat of his Cadillac Eldorado to improve that model's roadholding.

The Economist

Fortuitously, the recent improvement in plastic electronics for ink-jet printers has invigorated the whole of the e-paper business.Like real paper, e-paper has to be both highly reflective and passive ie, it should need no juice for backlighting or for maintaining the image.

The Economist

Martin Weale, director of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, admits (as many would not) that Britain may have fortuitously joined at the right time and left at the right time--but, even on that view, the price of higher unemployment and lost output was probably too high for the resulting fall in inflation.

The Economist

With Mr Weld's luck, nothing is impossible.After all, he has spent his whole life flitting fortuitously from one peach job to another, propelled by a bizarre mixture of perfect self-confidence, first-rate intellect and personal disregard for the notion that Protestants are supposed to have a work ethic.

The Economist

That means they may soon be paying lots of tax.The IPO's timing fortuitously coincides with the beginning of California's annual budget "kabuki", as a former governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, called the process.

The Economist

That in turn is partly because the government is fortuitously delivering a well-timed fiscal stimulus through its spending spree on the public services.

The Economist

So France is both keenly aware of the direct terrorist threat and fortuitously placed to try to counter it.Mr Hollande recently launched "Operation Barkhane", a reorganisation of the 3,000-odd 3,000-oddoops that are stationed in the Sahel.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fortuitously" to add a touch of sophistication when describing a fortunate event, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "fortuitously" when the event is a result of planning or skill, as it implies a chance occurrence. "Successfully" or "effectively" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "fortuitously" modifies verbs or entire clauses to indicate that an event occurred by chance and resulted in a positive outcome. Ludwig confirms its role in adding nuance by expressing how something happened in a fortunate way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Fortuitously" is an adverb that indicates something happened by chance with a positive outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, this word is grammatically correct and frequently appears in various sources, especially news and encyclopedias. While simpler alternatives like "luckily" and "fortunately" exist, "fortuitously" adds a degree of sophistication, making it suitable for formal contexts. Remember to use it only when the positive outcome is due to chance, not planning or skill, to avoid misrepresenting the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Luckily

Expresses the idea of good fortune in a more direct and informal way.

Fortunately

Similar to "luckily" but often used in slightly more formal contexts.

As luck would have it

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the role of chance.

By chance

A neutral way of saying something happened unexpectedly.

By good fortune

Highlights the positive aspect of the chance occurrence.

Providentially

Implies a divine or providential element in the fortunate event.

Serendipitously

Suggests a happy and unexpected discovery.

Coincidentally

Focuses on the fact that events happened at the same time.

As it happened

A simple way to introduce an event that occurred unexpectedly.

It so happened that

A more formal way to say "as it happened".

FAQs

How can I use "fortuitously" in a sentence?

"Fortuitously" is typically used to describe an event that happens by chance with a positive outcome. For example, "Fortuitously, the weather cleared just in time for the outdoor concert".

What's a simpler word for "fortuitously"?

Alternatives include "luckily" or "fortunately", which convey the same sense of a positive outcome due to chance but are less formal.

Is it correct to use "fortuitously" in formal writing?

Yes, "fortuitously" is appropriate for formal writing. It adds a nuanced way of expressing that something happened by fortunate chance, unlike simpler terms such as "luckily".

What is the difference between "fortuitously" and "coincidentally"?

"Coincidentally" simply means that two things happened at the same time or in the same place. "Fortuitously" implies that the chance occurrence has a positive or beneficial outcome. Therefore, "fortuitously" adds a layer of good fortune that "coincidentally" lacks.