fortune

1 of 2

noun

for·​tune ˈfȯr-chən How to pronounce fortune (audio)
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
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

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
Overall, this is a no-frills swing that gets high marks for effectiveness and safety features and won’t cost you a fortune. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 Shares in the public companies behind Arnault and Bezos’ fortunes, on the other hand, are each up about 14%. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 6 Mar. 2024 Can shooting fortunes change at the most important time on the calendar? Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Their fortunes changed when a group of young officers ousted the last Imam in 1962 and formed a republic. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 Towler said that lukewarm enthusiasm for Biden and the party at large could sap traditionally reliable Black turnout with potential consequences for Democratic fortunes — and American democracy — in November. Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 What companies like Google, Walmart, and others have learned is that fortune isn’t even-handed. Steven Lee, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 After Gokongwei passed away in 2019, his six children—Lance, Robina, Lisa, Faith, Hope and Marcia—inherited his fortune. Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Just 36 families were worth $10 billion or more in 2020, the last time Forbes counted the fortunes of America's richest families. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fortune.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fortune was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fortune

Cite this Entry

“Fortune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortune. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on fortune

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