serendipity

[ ser-uhn-dip-i-tee ]

noun

, plural ser·en·dip·i·ties.

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

Derived Forms

• ˌserenˈdipitous, adjective

Other Words From

• ser·en·dip·it·er ser·en·dip·i·tist ser·en·dip·per noun

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

What this means is that evolution in E. coli, despite the serendipity of horizontal gene transfer, isn’t just a matter of chance.

From Salon

“There’s been a lot of serendipity when it comes to League 42 throughout our entire existence,” said Bob Lutz, who is executive director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the statue.

From Seattle Times

Answering those questions requires a bit of serendipity.

From Science Daily

This indelible pop smash emerged from a moment of studio serendipity.

From New York Times

Their creative approach also meant embracing mistakes and moments of serendipity.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fluke
• happenstance