Fortune vs. Prosperity — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
Fortune refers to luck or wealth, often involving chance, while prosperity denotes long-term success, growth, or thriving, generally resulting from consistent effort or favorable conditions.
Difference Between Fortune and Prosperity
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fortune often signifies luck, whether good or bad, that influences a person's circumstances, or it can mean accumulated wealth. Prosperity, on the other hand, represents a state of sustained well-being and economic success.
Fortune can come through unpredictable or external factors, such as winning a lottery or inheritance, whereas prosperity usually arises from deliberate actions like smart investments, education, and diligent work.
Fortune's luck aspect can have both positive and negative connotations, leading to unexpected gains or losses. Prosperity, however, is inherently positive, implying steady growth, security, and health.
Fortune is sometimes seen as transient due to its reliance on chance, whereas prosperity suggests enduring stability and consistent improvement over time.
Fortune is often personal or individual, referring to one person's situation. Prosperity can apply broadly to entire communities or economies, indicating widespread flourishing and success.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
Luck or accumulated wealth
Long-term success and thriving
Source
Often external, due to chance
Consistent effort or favorable conditions
Duration
Transient or changeable
Stable and long-lasting
Scope
Typically individual or personal
Can apply to individuals or societies
Connotation
Can be positive or negative
Positive, implying growth and stability
Compare with Definitions
Fortune
Luck, particularly in gaining something desirable.
She credited her fortune in business to strategic investments.
Prosperity
A state of flourishing and thriving in various aspects.
The city experienced unprecedented prosperity after the new developments.
Fortune
An unpredictable outcome, either good or bad.
Fortune can change quickly in the stock market.
Prosperity
The condition of being successful and financially thriving.
Their prosperity resulted from years of hard work.
Fortune
A destiny or fate determined by chance.
He left his future to fortune and traveled the world.
Prosperity
Continuous growth in wealth or well-being.
The new government policies aimed to bring prosperity to all citizens.
Fortune
A stroke of luck that can alter one's life.
Winning the lottery was a life-changing fortune.
Prosperity
The successful outcome of sustained efforts.
Their prosperity stemmed from carefully planned business strategies.
Fortune
An abundance of wealth or assets.
The family amassed a considerable fortune in real estate.
Prosperity
Favorable economic conditions benefiting society at large.
A stable job market ensures the prosperity of the nation.
Fortune
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; luck
He decided to travel, and his fortune turned for the worse.
Prosperity
Prosperity is the flourishing, thriving, good fortune and successful social status. Prosperity often produces profuse wealth including other factors which can be profusely wealthy in all degrees, such as happiness and health.
Fortune
Fortunes The turns of luck in the course of one's life.
Prosperity
The condition of being prosperous.
Fortune
Success, especially when at least partially resulting from luck
No matter what they tried, it ended in fortune.
Prosperity
The condition of being prosperous, of having good fortune
Fortune
A person's condition or standing in life determined by material possessions or financial wealth
She pursued her fortune in Rome.
Prosperity
The state of being prosperous; advance or gain in anything good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; attainment of the object desired; good fortune; success; as, commercial prosperity; national prosperity.
Now prosperity begins to mellow.
Prosperities can only be enjoyed by them who fear not at all to lose them.
Fortune
Extensive amounts of material possessions or money; wealth.
Prosperity
An economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment
Fortune
A large sum of money
Spent a fortune on the new car.
Prosperity
The condition of prospering; having good fortune
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.
Fortune
Fate; destiny
Told my fortune with tarot cards.
Fortune
A foretelling of one's destiny.
Fortune
(Archaic) To endow with wealth.
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
Is fortune always associated with money?
Not necessarily. It can refer to fate, luck, or any significant gain.
Can fortune be bad as well as good?
Yes, "fortune" can indicate both positive and negative luck or fate.
Does prosperity only mean financial success?
No, it also encompasses overall well-being, growth, and health.
Is fortune sustainable over time?
Not necessarily, as fortune often involves unpredictable factors that can change.
Does prosperity depend on luck?
Not primarily. It often results from deliberate planning and favorable circumstances.
Can prosperity lead to complacency?
Sometimes, but sustained prosperity usually requires continued effort and innovation.
How does a prosperous economy affect society?
It leads to widespread improvements in living standards, health, and security.
Are there cultural differences in the concept of fortune?
Yes, interpretations of fortune can vary significantly across different cultures.
Can a person have fortune but lack prosperity?
Yes, sudden wealth may not lead to long-term stability or well-being.
Is prosperity a shared value in society?
Generally, most societies value and strive for widespread prosperity.
What is considered a prosperous nation?
A nation with strong economic growth, low unemployment, and good living conditions.
Is it possible to achieve prosperity without fortune?
Yes, prosperity can be achieved through consistent hard work, strategy, and planning.
Can one influence their own fortune?
To some extent, by making smart decisions or being prepared to seize opportunities.
Does fortune require any skill or preparation?
It often doesn't, as luck or chance plays a significant role.
Does prosperity affect one's mental health?
It often positively influences mental health through stability and reduced stress.
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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.
Edited 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.
