fortuitously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fortuitously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that happens by chance or accident, often in a fortunate or lucky way. Example: "She fortuitously found a $20 bill on the ground just when she needed it."

✓ 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 to your writing when describing events that happen by chance and result in a positive outcome. It's particularly effective when you want to highlight the unexpected and beneficial nature of the occurrence.

Common error

While "fortuitously" can enhance your writing, avoid using it excessively. Over-reliance on formal adverbs like "fortuitously" can make your writing sound stilted. Consider simpler alternatives like "luckily" or "fortunately" to maintain a natural and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "fortuitously" modifies verbs or clauses, indicating that an event happened by chance in a beneficial way. Ludwig AI shows examples such as "<span class="lh">Fortuitously Jan Koum, of WhatsApp...was also at MWC" demonstrating how it sets the tone for a fortunate, unexpected situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

24%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

4%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "fortuitously" describes events that occur by chance but result in a positive outcome. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and common in formal writing, especially in news, encyclopedias, and business contexts. While alternatives like "luckily" or "fortunately" exist, "fortuitously" adds a refined touch. Remember to use it judiciously to avoid sounding stilted and to emphasize the unexpected yet beneficial nature of the event you're describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Luckily

Emphasizes good fortune or chance in a more direct and common way.

Fortunately

Similar to "luckily" but often implies a more favorable outcome due to circumstance.

As luck would have it

Expresses a situation where luck played a significant role, often unexpectedly.

By good fortune

Highlights the role of positive luck or chance in an event.

By a stroke of luck

Emphasizes the sudden and unexpected nature of the good fortune.

By happy accident

Highlights the accidental and positive nature of the event.

Opportunely

Focuses on the timing being right or favorable for a particular purpose.

Favorably

Indicates that circumstances were advantageous or contributed to a positive result.

Providentially

Suggests that the event was guided by divine intervention or foresight.

Serendipitously

Emphasizes the accidental discovery of something fortunate or beneficial.

FAQs

How can I use "fortuitously" in a sentence?

Use "fortuitously" to describe an event that happens by chance in a positive way. For example, "The IPO's timing "fortuitously coincides" with the beginning of California's annual budget 'kabuki'."

What are some alternatives to the word "fortuitously"?

You can use alternatives like "luckily", "fortunately", or "as luck would have it" depending on the context.

What does "fortuitously" mean?

"Fortuitously" means happening by chance or accident, but in a lucky or beneficial way. It implies a positive outcome resulting from unforeseen circumstances.

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

Yes, "fortuitously" is appropriate for formal writing. It adds a touch of sophistication when describing a fortunate accident or chance occurrence. It is frequently found in formal writing contexts such as news reports, academic papers or encyclopedias.