fortune

/ˈfɔːr.tʃuːn/
wealth or great success

She won a fortune in the lottery.

She received a large amount of money unexpectedly.


general

A large amount of money or wealth

He inherited a fortune from his grandfather.

He received a large inheritance.

Often used to describe significant financial assets.

general

Good luck or favorable circumstances

Fortune smiled upon her when she found the lost wallet.

She was lucky to find the wallet.

Can be used metaphorically to describe luck or opportunity.

literary

A prediction of future events, often in a mystical or prophetic context

The fortune teller predicted a great journey.

The fortune teller foretold an important trip.

Commonly associated with Chinese fortune cookies or tarot readings.

Collocations

fortune cookiea small cookie containing a piece of paper with a message or predictionfortune tellera person who claims to predict the futuremake a fortuneto earn a large amount of money

Related Phrases

fortune favors the boldproverb
success often comes to those who take risks
turn of fortunephrase
a change in luck or circumstances

Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'fortune' depends heavily on context—whether it refers to money, luck, or predictions.

Gold Rule

Avoid Confusion

Do not confuse 'fortune' (wealth/luck) with 'fort' (a fortified place) or 'fortify' (to strengthen).

Word Origin

From Old French 'fortune,' from Latin 'fortuna,' meaning 'chance, luck, fate,' derived from 'fors' (chance) and 'fortis' (strong).

Usage Notes

Can refer to both material wealth and abstract luck or destiny. Often used in expressions like 'fortune favors the bold.'

Word Breakdown

fort
strong or chance
root
+
-une
noun suffix
suffix
English Dictionary