Words / B1

FORCH-uh-n-uh-t/ˈfɔːtʃənət/

Fortunate means lucky, especially because something worse did not happen: fortunate to + verb; fortunate that. Lucky is everyday; fortunate is slightly more formal. Fortune is the noun (wealth or luck). Unfortunately is already in the dictionary. Do not call a lottery win merely fortunate if you mean huge luck — but the word still fits.

Meaning

Lucky, especially because something bad did not happen.

Examples

• “We were fortunate that the train was only twenty minutes late.”
• “She was fortunate to find a mentor in the first week.”

Good to know

fortunate to / that. Everyday: lucky. Noun: fortune. Opposite adverb: unfortunately. Formal tone in reports.

Near in meaning

lucky

New