serendipity

[ ser-uh n-dip-i-tee ]
/ ˌsɛr ənˈdɪp ɪ ti /

noun

an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
good fortune; luck: the serendipity of getting the first job she applied for.

Origin of serendipity

1754; Serendip + -ity; Horace Walpole so named a faculty possessed by the heroes of a fairy tale called The Three Princes of Serendip

OTHER WORDS FROM serendipity

ser·en·dip·it·er, ser·en·dip·i·tist, ser·en·dip·per, noun

Words nearby serendipity

serena, serenade, serenata, serendip, serendipitous, serendipity, serendipity berry, serene, serengeti, serenity, sereth

British Dictionary definitions for serendipitist

serendipity
/ (ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtɪ) /

noun

the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident

Derived forms of serendipity

serendipitous, adjective

Word Origin for serendipity

C18: coined by Horace Walpole, from the Persian fairytale The Three Princes of Serendip, in which the heroes possess this gift