fortune

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "fortune" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a large amount of money or wealth. For example, "My family came into a great fortune after winning the lottery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

First-round opponent: [10] Andrea Petkovic (GER) Let's reiterate, with 17 women in the women's singles draw, all but three unseeded, there was a pretty good chance fortune wasn't going to favor most of them.

The Guardian - Sport

Wood, the multimillionaire who made his fortune founding travel and accommodation service Wotif.com, is the founding investor but does not hold shares or board membership.

The Guardian

That meaning is clearly emerging – but only as "possible" rise of fortune; a dream, not a promise.

The Guardian - Books

Von Furstenberg's life story is a biopic waiting to happen: the self-made millionaire who married into (and then divorced from) German royalty, partied with Andy Warhol at Studio 54, lost her fortune and won it again, got namechecked in a Dolly Parton song (Working Girl) and is still, at 66, having a high old time as a grand dame of New York.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If McLean was hoping for a similar piece of fortune, he was to be disappointed.

The Guardian - Sport

Paulson is renowned for betting against an overheated housing market before the financial crisis netted his fund $15bn and cemented his personal fortune, estimated by Forbes at $11.2bn.

The Guardian - Business

Related: All 68 NCAA tournament schools ranked by coolest alumnus We could hardly believe our good fortune when, for the first time in history, each of the four No1 seeds made the Final Four.

The Guardian - Sport

I wanted Labor no longer to be a hostage to fortune but to have a policy that could last.

The Guardian

"You'd pay a fortune for this in a hotel," said my partner, trying not to get the mud on her lips.

The Guardian - Travel

If the deal goes ahead, the students' new landlords will be Mikhail Fridman, Russia's second wealthiest man, worth an estimated £9.3bn; German Khan, said by Forbes magazine to be worth about £6bn; and Alexei Kuzmichev, with a fortune of about £4.5bn.

The Guardian - Business

A 45-year-old suburban Minneapolis man wasted little time Thursday in claiming one-third of a $448m Powerball jackpot, coming forward only hours after realizing he had won to reveal his good fortune to the world.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial matters, use "fortune" to emphasize significant wealth. For example, "She inherited a considerable fortune from her grandfather."

Common error

Avoid using "fortune" to describe trivial lucky events. Instead of saying "I had the fortune of finding a parking spot", use "luck" or "chance".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fortune" is as a noun, denoting wealth, luck, or destiny. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, from amassing a "fortune" to having the "fortune" of meeting someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Travel

10%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "fortune" functions primarily as a noun, denoting wealth, luck, or destiny. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it's a versatile word found across various contexts, including news, business, and everyday conversation. Its grammatical status is correct, and it is considered very common. Ludwig AI confirms the word is usable in written English, particularly to refer to large sums of money. When using "fortune", consider the context and choose more precise alternatives like "wealth" or "destiny" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wealth

Focuses specifically on material riches and abundance, omitting the element of chance.

riches

Synonymous with wealth and abundant material possessions.

good luck

Emphasizes the positive aspect of chance and favorable circumstances, but doesn't always imply wealth.

destiny

Highlights the predetermined nature of events, removing the element of chance or luck.

opulence

Suggests extreme wealth and extravagance, beyond basic needs.

financial success

Specifically refers to achievement in monetary terms, often earned through effort.

windfall

Emphasizes a sudden and unexpected gain, often of money or assets.

chance

Highlights the random nature of events, without necessarily implying a positive outcome or large sum of money.

one's lot in life

Refers to a person's overall circumstances and experiences, which may be positive or negative.

one's fate

Stresses the inevitability and predetermination of events, rather than chance or personal effort.

FAQs

How to use "fortune" in a sentence?

You can use "fortune" to refer to wealth, luck, or destiny. For instance, "He amassed a great fortune in the stock market", "I had the good fortune to meet her", or "She read my fortune with tarot cards".

What can I say instead of "fortune" when referring to wealth?

Alternatives for "fortune" when referring to wealth include "wealth", "riches", "assets", or "capital", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "make a fortune" or "earn a fortune"?

Both "make a fortune" and "earn a fortune" are correct. They describe the act of acquiring a large amount of money, often through hard work or investment.

What's the difference between "fortune" and "fate"?

"Fortune" often implies chance or luck, especially in acquiring wealth or experiencing good events. "Fate", on the other hand, suggests a predetermined course of events beyond one's control.