fortunately
FAW-chuh-niht-lee
Fortunately (adv) means used to introduce a piece of good luck. Example: “I dropped my phone in the lake, but fortunately it was in a waterproof case.”
adv
1
Used to introduce a piece of good luck.
"I dropped my phone in the lake, but fortunately it was in a waterproof case."
"We missed the first train. Fortunately, another one arrived ten minutes later."
"Fortunately, the storm passed before the game started."
How to use fortunately
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA way of saying "luckily" at the start of a sentence to highlight something good.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more fortunately
- Superlative
- most fortunately
Fill the gap
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I dropped my phone in the lake, but _____ it was in a waterproof case.
Etymology
From fortunate plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fortunately
See all rhymes for fortunately →Frequently asked questions
What does “fortunately” mean?
The word “fortunately” means used to introduce a piece of good luck. In plain terms, a way of saying "luckily" at the start of a sentence to highlight something good.
How do you pronounce “fortunately”?
“Fortunately” is pronounced FAW-chuh-niht-lee (/ˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “fortunately” in a sentence?
Here is “fortunately” used in a sentence: “Fortunately, the storm passed before the game started.”
What is another word for “fortunately”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fortunately” include happily, luckily, mercifully and thankfully.
What part of speech is “fortunately”?
“Fortunately” is an adverb.
Is “fortunately” a common word?
“Fortunately” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between "fortunately" and "unfortunately"?
"Fortunately" introduces a piece of good luck, while "unfortunately" introduces something unlucky or regrettable. They are direct opposites used to signal whether the news that follows is welcome or unwelcome.
Where does "fortunately" go in a sentence?
"Fortunately" is a sentence adverb and most often sits at the start, commenting on the whole clause that follows, as in "Fortunately, no one was hurt." It can also appear mid-sentence, as in "The damage was, fortunately, minor," usually set off by commas.
When should you use "fortunately" instead of "luckily"?
The two are close in meaning and often interchangeable, but "fortunately" is a little more formal, while "luckily" sounds more conversational. Both introduce a welcome or lucky turn of events.
Do you put a comma after "fortunately"?
When "fortunately" opens a sentence to comment on the whole statement, it is normally followed by a comma, as in "Fortunately, the train was on time." The comma signals that the adverb applies to the entire clause rather than a single word.
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