serendipity
/หser.ษnหdษชp.ษ.ti/
noun
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An instance of finding something good or valuable without looking for it."A fortunate stroke of serendipity led to the discovery of penicillin."
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The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident."The author's serendipity is evident in how chance encounters inspired her characters."
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Good luck; fortune.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Frequency
Common
Used in academic, literary, and casual contexts
First Known Use
1754
Coined by Horace Walpole
๐ Usage Frequency Over Time (1800โ2024)
Example Sentences
It was pure serendipity that we ran into each other at the conference.
The novel's plot relies heavily on serendipity rather than careful planning.
Scientific breakthroughs often owe their origins to serendipity.
Origin & History
From Italian serendipitร , from serendippo (variant of Serendip, an old name for Sri Lanka), coined by Horace Walpole in 1754. Inspired by The Three Princes of Serendip, a Persian fairy tale in which the heroes were always making discoveries by accidents and sagacity.