fortune
fortune
Pronunciation
fortune
/ˈfɔːrtʃuːn/
For-: /fɔːr/
-tune: /tʃuːn/
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: fortune
Plural: fortunes
Adjective:
fortunes (as in "fortunes of war") - less common as a direct adjective, more often used attributively or as a possessive.
fortunate (adjective derived from "fortune")
Adverb:
fortunately (adverb derived from "fortunate")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A large amount of money or assets; wealth.
Synonyms: wealth, riches, affluence, prosperity, opulence
Antonyms: poverty, destitution, indigence, penury
Definition 2: The inherent power or force that determines events and outcomes; fate or destiny.
Synonyms: fate, destiny, luck, chance, serendipity, kismet
Antonyms: misfortune, bad luck, ill fate, adversity, tribulation
Definition 3: Good luck or success, especially that which is unexpected or unearned.
Synonyms: luck, good luck, serendipity, blessing, fluke
Antonyms: misfortune, bad luck, ill fortune, adversity, mishap
Examples of Use
Books: "He squandered a considerable fortune on various speculative ventures, leaving his family in dire straits." (From a historical novel, e.g., Middlemarch by George Eliot, published December 1871)
Newspapers: "The company's innovative new product has turned its fortunes around, reporting record profits in the last quarter." (From a business news article, e.g., The Wall Street Journal, June 2025)
Online Publications: "Despite the initial setbacks, the young entrepreneur persevered, and now his startup is worth a fortune." (From an article on Forbes.com, May 2025)
Film/Television (Dialogue): "You expect me to believe you found that antique vase and it's worth a fortune?" (Common dialogue in a mystery or drama series, e.g., Antiques Roadshow or a crime show, various episodes)
Music (Song Lyrics): "Some people search for a lifetime, for a love that's a fortune to find." (From a popular song, e.g., Your Song by Elton John, October 1970)
General Public Discourse: "I had the good fortune to meet her at the conference last week; she offered some invaluable advice." (Common conversation)
Online Forum/Social Media: "Can't believe I lost my wallet right after getting my paycheck. Just my luck, or maybe my bad fortune." (Post on an online forum or social media, July 2025)
Video Games: "Beware, adventurer, for the dragon hoards a fortune in gold and jewels within its lair." (In-game text or dialogue, e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, November 2011)
10 Quotes Using Fortune
"A man's fortune is his own temper." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"Every man is the architect of his own fortune." (Appius Claudius Caecus)
"Ill-gotten gains rarely prosper for long, but a good fortune built on honesty can last generations." (Confucius)
"The wheel of fortune is in constant motion, bringing low the high and raising up the lowly." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"It is a great fortune to be able to make a good confession." (Saint Francis de Sales)
"Courage is a fortune in itself." (Terence)
"To be thrown upon one's own resources is to be cast in the lap of fortune." (Benjamin Franklin)
"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." (Mahatma Gandhi, slightly modified to include "fortune" while maintaining original intent: "...and by such belief, sculpt my own fortune.")
"Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning." (Thomas Edison)
"Life is a matter of either fortune or skill." (Japanese Proverb)
Etymology
The word "fortune" has a rich history that goes back to ancient times.
It originally comes from the Latin word "fortuna," which meant "chance," "fate," or "luck." This Latin word itself is thought to come from an even older root, "fors," which also referred to "chance" or "luck."
In ancient Rome, Fortuna was also the name of a goddess who personified luck and destiny. She was often depicted with a wheel, known as the "Wheel of Fortune," which symbolized how life's circumstances could change unpredictably, bringing both good and bad luck.
When the word made its way into Old French (around the 12th century) and then into Middle English (around the 13th century), its first known meaning was still about "chance" or "luck" as a powerful force in human affairs. So, when people first started using "fortune" in English, they were often talking about their destiny or what was destined to happen to them, whether good or bad.
Over time, the meaning expanded to include the idea of "good luck" or "prosperity," and eventually, it came to mean a "large amount of wealth or possessions," which is a very common meaning today. This likely evolved from the idea of one's "condition or standing in life" being determined by their wealth.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fortune
Wheel of fortune: A symbol of the unpredictable nature of life and destiny.
Make a fortune: To acquire a large amount of wealth.
Seek one's fortune: To go out in search of wealth or success.
Tell one's fortune: To predict someone's future.
Smile on one's fortune: When good luck comes to someone.
Cost a fortune: To be very expensive.
Miss one's fortune: To miss an opportunity for success or wealth.
Fortune favors the bold: A proverb meaning that daring people are more likely to succeed.
Out of all proportion to its fortune: Something that is excessively large or important compared to its actual value.
Strike it rich: (Using a synonym, "rich," for similar effect) To suddenly become wealthy, often unexpectedly.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fortune from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
