serendipity
5 synonyms for serendipity, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A pleasant surprise — finding something good without looking for it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use serendipity
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
by serendipity
pure serendipity
a happy serendipity
Etymology
Coined in 1754 by the writer Horace Walpole, based on an old Persian fairy tale, "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes kept stumbling onto good fortune by accident.
Full origin of serendipity →Frequently asked questions
What does “serendipity” mean?
The word “serendipity” means a pleasant surprise — finding something good without looking for it. In plain terms, a lucky accident — finding something great when you weren't even looking for it.
How do you pronounce “serendipity”?
“Serendipity” is pronounced sehr-uhn-DIHP-ih-tee (/ˌsɛɹ.ənˈdɪp.ɪ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “serendipity” in a sentence?
Here is “serendipity” used in a sentence: “Meeting my business partner at that conference was pure serendipity.”
What part of speech is “serendipity”?
“Serendipity” is a noun.
Where does the word “serendipity” come from?
The word “serendipity” dates back to around 1754 and comes from Persian. Coined in 1754 by the writer Horace Walpole, based on an old Persian fairy tale, "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes kept stumbling onto good fortune by accident.
