fatuitous

[ fuh-too-i-tuhs, -tyoo- ]

adjective

1. complacently stupid; foolish.

Other Words From

• fa·tui·tous·ness noun
• unfa·tui·tous adjective
• unfa·tui·tous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatuitous¹

First recorded in 1725–35; fatuit(y) + -ous

Example Sentences

With a persistent, fatuitous belief that they would drift to Disco, the seamen were first aroused to the extreme seriousness of their situation by a most violent gale of sixty hours in which they barely escaped death.

From Project Gutenberg

If, in spite of all these discouragements, those powers were mad or fatuitous enough to meditate such an enterprise, have they any reason to believe that it could succeed?

From Project Gutenberg

Certainly the present attempts to discover that law, however fatuitous they may seem to many, are neither illogical, nor, judging by the impetus already given to biology, or the science of life, labor altogether spent in vain.

From Project Gutenberg

Now that the race of man had lost in fact all distinction of rank, this pride was doubly fatuitous; now that we felt a kindred, fraternal nature with all who bore the stamp of humanity, this angry reminiscence of times for ever gone, was worse than foolish.

From Project Gutenberg

The coincidences of prophecy are not more remarkable than those of star-telling; and Dryden and the author I have referred to were probably both captivated into belief by some fatuitous realization of their horoscopic predictions.

From Project Gutenberg