Fortune vs. Misfortune — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 3, 2024
Fortune is often seen as luck or success, while misfortune denotes bad luck or adversity.
Difference Between Fortune and Misfortune
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fortune typically refers to good luck or the positive turn of events that leads to success or wealth. This can encompass anything from financial gain to personal achievement. People often seek ways to attract fortune, believing certain actions or symbols can influence their luck. Misfortune, on the other hand, signifies the opposite: bad luck or an unfortunate event that results in loss or hardship. It is often perceived as something out of one's control, striking unpredictably and altering lives in negative ways. While fortune is celebrated and desired, misfortune is something most try to avoid or mitigate.
The perception of fortune and misfortune can vary greatly among different cultures and individuals. In some beliefs, fortune is seen as a result of one's actions and moral standing, whereas misfortune might be considered a test or a punishment. This moral dimension adds complexity to how both concepts are understood and interpreted.
Fortune is not just about material wealth but can also refer to non-material forms of good luck, such as finding love or achieving personal growth. Misfortune similarly encompasses not only financial loss but also personal setbacks, like the end of a relationship or failing to achieve a goal.
The role of fortune and misfortune in literature and storytelling highlights their impact on human experiences. Characters’ fortunes and misfortunes drive narratives, serving as catalysts for development and change. This reflects the universal human experience of navigating life's unpredictable ups and downs.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Good luck or success
Bad luck or adversity
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Perception
Positive, sought after
Negative, to be avoided
Impact on Life
Leads to wealth, success, or happiness
Results in loss, hardship, or sadness
Role in Culture
Often associated with symbols of luck
Considered a test or punishment
Manifestation
Can be material (wealth) or immaterial (love)
Can be material (loss) or immaterial (failure)
Compare with Definitions
Fortune
Wealth.
His family's fortune was built on a successful chain of stores.
Misfortune
Bad Luck.
They suffered the misfortune of losing their home in a fire.
Fortune
Chance or Happenstance.
They met by fortune at a cafe in Paris.
Misfortune
Adversity or Hardship.
Despite her misfortunes, she remained optimistic.
Fortune
Luck or Success.
Winning the lottery was a stroke of fortune that changed her life.
Misfortune
Unfortunate Event.
The misfortune of the accident left everyone in shock.
Fortune
Favorable Outcome.
By sheer fortune, they escaped the storm unharmed.
Misfortune
Ill Fate.
He considered his misfortune a test of character.
Fortune
Destiny or Fate.
She believed it was her fortune to become a singer.
Misfortune
Disaster or Tragedy.
The city’s history was marked by the misfortune of repeated floods.
Fortune
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; luck
He decided to travel, and his fortune turned for the worse.
Misfortune
Bad luck
The project was dogged by misfortune
Fortune
Fortunes The turns of luck in the course of one's life.
Misfortune
Bad fortune or ill luck.
Fortune
Success, especially when at least partially resulting from luck
No matter what they tried, it ended in fortune.
Misfortune
The condition resulting from bad fortune or ill luck
Wanted to help those in misfortune.
Fortune
A person's condition or standing in life determined by material possessions or financial wealth
She pursued her fortune in Rome.
Misfortune
A distressing occurrence
"Misfortunes are too apt to wear out Friendship" (Charlotte Charke).
Fortune
Extensive amounts of material possessions or money; wealth.
Misfortune
(uncountable) Bad luck.
The worst tour I have ever had the misfortune to experience.
Fortune
A large sum of money
Spent a fortune on the new car.
Misfortune
(countable) An undesirable event such as an accident.
She had to come to terms with a number of misfortunes.
Fortune
Often Fortune A hypothetical, often personified force or power that favorably or unfavorably governs the events of one's life
We believe that Fortune is on our side.
Misfortune
Bad fortune or luck; calamity; an evil accident; disaster; mishap; mischance.
Consider why the change was wrought,You 'll find his misfortune, not his fault.
Fortune
Fate; destiny
Told my fortune with tarot cards.
Misfortune
To happen unluckily or unfortunately; to miscarry; to fail.
Fortune
A foretelling of one's destiny.
Misfortune
Unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
Fortune
(Archaic) To endow with wealth.
Misfortune
An unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes
Fortune
(Obsolete) To ascribe or give good or bad fortune to.
Fortune
To occur by chance; happen.
Fortune
Destiny, especially favorable.
She read my fortune. Apparently I will have a good love life this week, but I will have a bad week for money.
Fortune
A prediction or set of predictions about a person's future provided by a fortune teller.
Fortune
A small slip of paper with wise or vaguely prophetic words printed on it, baked into a fortune cookie.
Fortune
The arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner; chance; accident.
Fortune
Good luck.
Fortune favors the brave.
Fortune
One's wealth; the amount of money one has, especially if it is vast.
He's amassed a small fortune working in the Middle East.
My vast fortune was a result of inheritance and stock market nous.
Her fortune is estimated at 3 million dollars.
Fortune
A large amount of money.
That car must be worth a fortune! How could you afford it?
Fortune
(transitive)
Fortune
To provide (someone) with a fortune.
Fortune
To tell the fortune of (someone); to presage.
Fortune
To happen, to take place.
Fortune
The arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner; chance; accident; luck; hap; also, the personified or deified power regarded as determining human success, apportioning happiness and unhappiness, and distributing arbitrarily or fortuitously the lots of life.
'T is more by fortune, lady, than by merit.
O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle.
Fortune
That which befalls or is to befall one; lot in life, or event in any particular undertaking; fate; destiny; as, to tell one's fortune.
You, who men's fortunes in their faces read.
Fortune
That which comes as the result of an undertaking or of a course of action; good or ill success; especially, favorable issue; happy event; success; prosperity as reached partly by chance and partly by effort.
Our equal crimes shall equal fortune give.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
His father dying, he was driven to seek his fortune.
Fortune
Wealth; large possessions; large estate; riches; as, a gentleman of fortune.
Fortune
To make fortunate; to give either good or bad fortune to.
Fortune
To provide with a fortune.
Fortune
To presage; to tell the fortune of.
Fortune
To fall out; to happen.
It fortuned the same night that a Christian, serving a Turk in the camp, secretely gave the watchmen warning.
Fortune
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another;
Bad luck caused his downfall
We ran into each other by pure chance
Fortune
A large amount of wealth or prosperity
Fortune
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome;
It was my good luck to be there
They say luck is a lady
It was as if fortune guided his hand
Fortune
Your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you);
Whatever my fortune may be
Deserved a better fate
Has a happy lot
The luck of the Irish
A victim of circumstances
Success that was her portion
Common Curiosities
How does misfortune differ from fortune?
Misfortune refers to bad luck or adversity, leading to negative consequences, unlike fortune.
Can fortune be controlled?
Many believe certain actions or symbols can influence fortune, though it often seems random.
How can one improve their fortune?
Practices vary, including carrying lucky charms, following certain rituals, or positive thinking.
Is there a way to predict fortune?
Some attempt to predict fortune through astrology, tarot, or other divinatory practices, though its effectiveness is debated.
What are common symbols of fortune?
Symbols like four-leaf clovers and horseshoes are often associated with fortune.
How do people typically respond to misfortune?
Responses vary, from seeking lessons and growth to feeling defeated or seeking change.
Can personal actions influence fortune?
Some believe that ethical behavior and hard work can improve one’s fortune.
What is fortune?
Fortune is good luck or success that brings positive outcomes.
Is misfortune always negative?
While misfortune is generally negative, some view it as an opportunity for growth or learning.
Can misfortune affect only material wealth?
No, misfortune can also impact personal well-being, relationships, and non-material aspects of life.
How does literature portray fortune and misfortune?
Literature often uses fortune and misfortune to drive narratives, reflecting their impact on the human condition.
Can misfortune bring people together?
Yes, shared misfortunes can foster community, empathy, and mutual support.
Is it possible to turn misfortune into fortune?
Many believe that with resilience and positive action, misfortune can be transformed into an opportunity for better outcomes.
Do cultures perceive fortune differently?
Yes, perceptions of fortune can vary significantly across different cultures and beliefs.
What role does fate play in fortune?
Fate is sometimes seen as a predetermined course of events that influences fortune.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
