serendipity
/ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪti/
the occurrence of fortunate discoveries by chance
serendipity in a sentence
“Finding her co-founder at a delayed gate was pure serendipity.”
Origin of serendipity
Coined in 1754 by Horace Walpole from the Persian tale The Three Princes of Serendip
What does serendipity really mean?
Serendipity is the art of finding what you weren't looking for — the happy accident that rewards an alert mind. It differs from plain luck: serendipitous discoveries require someone prepared to notice the unexpected and grasp what it means.
The story behind serendipity
Coined by Horace Walpole in a 1754 letter, after the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip (Serendip being an old name for Sri Lanka), whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of." Science adopted the word for discoveries like penicillin, X-rays, and the microwave oven.
How to use serendipity
Use it for fortunate accidents with an element of discernment: "meeting her co-founder was pure serendipity." The adjective is serendipitous. It carries a warm, literate tone — one of the most beloved words in English.
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