Serendipity
The story people love on dates and in interviews is the lucky accident that should not have worked, and this noun is the name for that plot twist in real life.
Learn This WordMeaning
The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way; a fortunate accident.
Memory trick
Think "SERENE-DIPITY" = finding something serene/pleasant by dipping into luck. Or remember the movie "Serendipity" about chance encounters.
Examples
She found her favorite mug in a box labeled “free”, pure serendipity on moving day.
The wrong turn put them on a side street with the only open bakery: serendipity with butter.
He dropped his keys; bending down, he spotted the lost earring, tiny serendipity, huge relief.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes made discoveries by accident.
Usage Notes
Often used to describe pleasant surprises or fortunate discoveries that happen by accident rather than through planning.
Real-life contexts
Perfect for happy accidents: "Finding you here is pure serendipity!"
Use when sharing lucky stories: "It was serendipity that led me to this opportunity."
Great for romantic contexts: "Our meeting was serendipity at its finest."
Common Mistakes
Serendipity implies a positive outcome. Don't use it for negative coincidences.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
noun
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
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