fortune

1 of 2

noun

for·​tune ˈfȯr-chən 

1

a

: a very large sum of money

spent a fortune redecorating

b

: riches, wealth

a man of fortune

c

: a store of material possessions

the family fortune

2

a

: prosperity attained partly through luck : success

fortune attended the general's campaign

b

: luck sense 1

c

fortunes plural : the turns and courses of luck accompanying one's progress (as through life)

her fortunes varied but she never gave up

3

: destiny, fate

can tell your fortune

also : a prediction of fortune

4

often capitalized : a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably

a country favored by fortune

5

obsolete : accident, incident

fortune

2 of 2

verb

fortuned; fortuning

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to give good or bad fortune to

2

archaic : to endow with a fortune

intransitive verb

archaic : happen, chance

Synonyms

Noun

• future

Examples of fortune in a Sentence

Noun

He hoped to achieve fame and fortune.

They had the good fortune to escape injury when their car crashed.

The book follows the fortunes of two families through the years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The two-part title story tells of a husband and wife who fled Mexico after the husband made a fortune by skimming from his job in the public works department. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Nov. 2024

Those making these gifts are spending down fortunes that a thriving market economy can deliver. —Sally C. Pipes, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Garnett has been playing recently with Loong (who sits 19th), so their fortunes are tied together. —Todd Boss, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Harris’ fortunes improved dramatically following Trump’s six-hour rally at Madison Square Garden, a chest-thumping extravaganza that the bettors reckoned would antagonize female voters on the fence. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fortuna; akin to Latin fort-, fors chance, luck, and perhaps to ferre to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing fortune

• a hostage to fortune
• fortune cookie
• fortune hunter
• fortune teller
• gentleman of fortune
• seek one's fortune
• small fortune
• soldier of fortune

Kids Definition

fortune

noun

for·​tune

ˈfȯr-chən

1

a

: favorable results that come partly by chance : good luck

b

: what happens to a person : good or bad luck

follows the fortunes of two families through the years

2

: what is to happen to one in the future

had my fortune told

also : a prediction of fortune

3

a

: the possession of material goods : wealth

b

: a store of material possessions : riches

the family fortune

c

: a large sum of money