Luck vs. Fortunate — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 3, 2024
Luck refers to the random chance occurrences that impact one's life; fortunate describes someone who experiences positive outcomes due to luck.
Difference Between Luck and Fortunate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Luck is generally perceived as a concept involving chance or probability affecting various outcomes in life. Whereas, being fortunate implies a state where individuals consistently experience good luck or favorable results.
Luck can occur in many forms, such as winning a lottery or finding a valuable item by chance, and does not necessarily relate to an individual's actions. On the other hand, being fortunate might be seen in a broader context, suggesting a pattern of positive events which could be attributed to external factors or personal disposition.
The randomness of luck means it can be both good or bad, impacting life in unforeseen ways. In contrast, the term fortunate is typically associated with beneficial circumstances, often reflecting an overall advantageous position in life.
Luck is transient and can change moment to moment, highlighting the unpredictability of life. Conversely, being described as fortunate often suggests a more stable and ongoing condition of experiencing positive outcomes.
Individuals may attribute luck to specific events, focusing on the spontaneity of the occurrence. Whereas, describing someone as fortunate may also imply a recognition of their overall life circumstances beyond single events.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The chance happening of events
Being subject to favorable outcomes
Connotation
Neutral (can be good or bad)
Positive (typically good)
Dependence on action
Minimal or none
May imply some underlying causes
Stability
Variable and changing
Generally stable and ongoing
Typical usage in context
Specific events
Overall life circumstances
Compare with Definitions
Luck
The good things that happen to people by chance.
His luck at auctions is legendary.
Fortunate
Prosperous; successful.
His fortunate investments made him a millionaire.
Luck
Random chance affecting outcomes.
She found her lost earring by pure luck.
Fortunate
Favored by or involving good luck.
She is fortunate to have such supportive friends.
Luck
Success or failure apparently brought by chance.
They won the game through sheer luck.
Fortunate
Marked by favorable circumstances.
They were fortunate to sell their house so quickly.
Luck
An unpredictable phenomenon.
Luck plays a big part in the success of startups.
Fortunate
Benefiting from a particular advantageous situation.
She is fortunate to work in such a well-respected company.
Luck
A force that brings good fortune or adversity.
Luck was not on his side during the poker game.
Fortunate
Having good fortune; lucky.
He felt fortunate to have arrived safely.
Luck
Luck is the phenomenon and belief that defines the experience of notably positive, negative, or improbable events. The naturalistic interpretation is that positive and negative events may happen all the time, both due to random and non-random natural and artificial processes, and that even improbable events can happen by random chance.
Fortunate
"Fortunate" is a neo soul song from the 1999 motion picture Life and was released on the film's soundtrack. The song was written, composed, produced and arranged by R. Kelly and recorded by Maxwell.
Luck
Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions
They're supposed to bring good luck
It was just luck that the first kick went in
Fortunate
Favoured by or involving good luck; lucky
She'd been fortunate to escape serious injury
It was fortunate that the weather was good
Luck
Chance to find or acquire
He lucked into a disc-jockey job
Fortunate
Bringing something good and unforeseen; auspicious.
Luck
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune
They met one day out of pure luck.
Fortunate
Having unexpected good fortune; lucky.
Luck
Good fortune or prosperity; success
We wish you luck.
Fortunate
One who has good fortune, especially a wealthy person.
Luck
One's personal fate or lot
It was just my luck to win a trip I couldn't take.
Fortunate
Auspicious.
It is a fortunate sign if the sun shines on a newly wedded couple.
Luck
To gain success or something desirable by chance
Lucked into a good apartment.
Lucked out in finding that rare book.
Fortunate
Happening by good luck or favorable chance.
Patrick was the unlikely match-winner as Berkeley earned a fortunate victory over Chisolm.
Luck
Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence, especially a favourable one.
The raffle is just a matter of luck.
Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success.
I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fifty dollar bill on the street.
Gilbert had some bad luck yesterday — he got pick-pocketed and lost fifty dollars.
Fortunate
Favored by fortune.
We were fortunate not to be fined for speeding.
This is a time when we think of those less fortunate than ourselves.
Luck
A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success.
He blew on the dice for luck.
I wish you lots of luck for the exam tomorrow.
Fortunate
Coming by good luck or favorable chance; bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain; presaging happiness; auspicious; as, a fortunate event; a fortunate concurrence of circumstances; a fortunate investment.
Luck
Success.
I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck.
He has a lot of luck with the ladies, perhaps it is because of his new motorbike.
Fortunate
Receiving same unforeseen or unexpected good, or some good which was not dependent on one's own skill or efforts; favored with good forune; lucky.
Luck
The results of a random number generator.
Fortunate
Having unexpected good fortune;
Other, less fortunate, children died
A fortunate choice
Luck
To find something through good fortune; used with into, on, onto or upon.
Fortunate
Supremely favored or fortunate;
Golden lads and girls all must / like chimney sweepers come to dust
Luck
That which happens to a person; an event, good or ill, affecting one's interests or happiness, and which is deemed casual; a course or series of such events regarded as occurring by chance; chance; hap; fate; fortune; often, one's habitual or characteristic fortune; as, good, bad, ill, or hard luck. Luck is often used by itself to mean good luck; as, luck is better than skill; a stroke of luck.
If thou dost play with him at any game,Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck,He beats thee 'gainst the odds.
Fortunate
Presaging good fortune;
She made a fortunate decision to go to medical school
Rosy predictions
Luck
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
Luck
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
Luck
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
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to be fortunate?
To be fortunate means experiencing favorable circumstances or outcomes, often seen as being lucky consistently.
How does luck impact everyday life?
Luck can affect various aspects of life, from small occurrences like finding a parking spot to significant events such as winning a lottery.
What is luck?
Luck refers to the unpredictable nature of events that can have beneficial or detrimental effects.
How can someone become fortunate?
While one cannot control luck, being in environments or making choices that lead to favorable outcomes can contribute to being considered fortunate.
Do people rely on luck in games?
Many games, especially those involving chance like lotteries and some card games, heavily rely on luck.
What role does luck play in success?
Luck can play a significant role in success, especially in unpredictable or highly competitive environments.
Can luck be improved?
While luck itself is random, individuals can position themselves in scenarios where the chances of positive outcomes are higher.
Can luck be controlled?
By its very nature, luck cannot be controlled as it involves random chance.
Is being fortunate the same as being lucky?
While similar, being fortunate implies a more consistent experience of positive outcomes, as opposed to the singular, random events associated with luck.
Can luck be a belief system?
Yes, many cultures and individuals hold beliefs in luck as a force that influences life events.
Is it better to be lucky or fortunate?
Being fortunate is often seen as more desirable as it implies a sustained series of positive outcomes, rather than isolated incidents of luck.
Are some people naturally luckier than others?
It may appear so, but luck is inherently random; however, people's attitudes and choices can influence their perception and experiences of luck.
What is the difference between luck and fate?
Luck involves random chance, whereas fate involves a predetermined outcome that is typically unavoidable.
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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
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
