serendipity

[ser-uhn-dip-i-tee]

noun

plural

serendipities 

1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

2. accidental discovery, or an instance of this.

   Alton’s premiere novel was a serendipity that affected my thinking in the most positive way.

3. good fortune; luck.

   What serendipity—she got the first job she applied for!

serendipity

/ ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtɪ /

noun

1. the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident

Other Word Forms

• serendipiter noun
• serendipitist noun
• serendipper noun
• serendipitous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of serendipity¹

Serendip + -ity; coined in 1754 by English novelist Horace Walpole ( def. ) for an ability possessed by the heroes of a fairy tale called The Three Princes of Serendip, using a former name for Sri Lanka

Word History and Origins

Origin of serendipity¹

C18: coined by Horace Walpole, from the Persian fairytale The Three Princes of Serendip, in which the heroes possess this gift

Example Sentences

New ideas spring, as if by serendipity, from individuals.

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“Gen Z wants to connect authentically. They believe in romance. They’re open to serendipity,” he said.

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When you’re just another tourist following a well-trodden itinerary, serendipity is rare, but the Georgian hinterland seems to regularly yield chance happenings.

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She felt relying heavily on AI to source investment opportunities could kill the serendipity of scouting for deals, which can uncover talented entrepreneurs in unsuspecting ways.

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Then in the 1940s, "serendipity" catapulted it into the big time, says Prof Silhavy.

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Related Words

• fluke 
• happenstance