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

Example sentences from the Web for serendipity

British Dictionary definitions for serendipity

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