Luck vs. Fortune — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 25, 2023
Luck refers to the chance occurrence of events, either good or bad, while Fortune often connotes accumulated wealth or fate as a guiding force.
Difference Between Luck and Fortune
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Throughout human history, the concepts of Luck and Fortune have been deeply interwoven into narratives and daily lives. Luck can be understood as the random occurrence of events beyond human control, and it can bring about favorable or unfavorable outcomes. It's that unexpected stroke of good or bad that can change the course of events.
Fortune, while sometimes used interchangeably with Luck, frequently refers to one's fate or destiny, often associated with prosperity or wealth. For example, a person who inherits vast wealth is said to have a "great Fortune," implying both fate and material success played a role.
In many contexts, Luck seems to be more fleeting and immediate. A person might experience good Luck in a game of cards, but this doesn't necessarily mean they have a significant Fortune at their disposal. It's about the chance moments that can arise and fade quickly.
Conversely, Fortune carries a weightier presence, often reflecting a longer timeframe or a larger scope. While someone can be "fortunate" in finding a parking spot, the word is more commonly associated with broader strokes of life's canvas, such as the fate that befalls a person or the accumulation of wealth over time.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Chance occurrence, either good or bad
Fate, destiny, or large accumulated wealth
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Duration
Often fleeting
Often long-term or significant
Scope
Specific events
Broader life outcomes
Common Usage
"Bad luck," "lucky charm"
"Fortune teller," "family fortune"
Association
Randomness
Destiny or significant prosperity
Compare with Definitions
Luck
A force causing good or bad things to happen.
With some luck, we'll make it on time.
Fortune
Large accumulated wealth or possessions.
He inherited a vast fortune from his ancestors.
Luck
Favorable or propitious circumstances.
It was pure luck that they had a spare tire.
Fortune
One's overall circumstances in life.
Soldiers going to battle trusted their fortunes to fate.
Luck
Success or failure apparently brought about by chance.
Trying her luck, she bought a lottery ticket.
Fortune
A force or process that dictates the outcome of events.
Fortune favored the brave in that instance.
Luck
The chance happening of events.
By sheer luck, they escaped the storm.
Fortune
Luck, especially good luck.
She had the good fortune of meeting her idol.
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.
Fortune
The predictions made by a fortune teller.
The fortune teller predicted a bright future for him.
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
Fortune
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; luck
He decided to travel, and his fortune turned for the worse.
Luck
Chance to find or acquire
He lucked into a disc-jockey job
Fortune
Fortunes The turns of luck in the course of one's life.
Luck
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune
They met one day out of pure luck.
Fortune
Success, especially when at least partially resulting from luck
No matter what they tried, it ended in fortune.
Luck
Good fortune or prosperity; success
We wish you luck.
Fortune
A person's condition or standing in life determined by material possessions or financial wealth
She pursued her fortune in Rome.
Luck
One's personal fate or lot
It was just my luck to win a trip I couldn't take.
Fortune
Extensive amounts of material possessions or money; wealth.
Luck
To gain success or something desirable by chance
Lucked into a good apartment.
Lucked out in finding that rare book.
Fortune
A large sum of money
Spent a fortune on the new car.
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.
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.
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.
Fortune
Fate; destiny
Told my fortune with tarot cards.
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.
Fortune
A foretelling of one's destiny.
Luck
The results of a random number generator.
Fortune
(Archaic) To endow with wealth.
Luck
To find something through good fortune; used with into, on, onto or upon.
Fortune
(Obsolete) To ascribe or give good or bad fortune to.
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.
Fortune
To occur by chance; happen.
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
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.
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
Fortune
A prediction or set of predictions about a person's future provided by a fortune teller.
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
Fortune
A small slip of paper with wise or vaguely prophetic words printed on it, baked into a fortune cookie.
Luck
Good fortune or prosperity.
Wishing you all the luck in the world!
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
Can Fortune refer to one's destiny?
Yes, Fortune often relates to fate or destiny.
Is Luck always positive?
No, Luck can be either good or bad.
Which term often relates to accumulated wealth?
Fortune.
Is finding money on the street considered Luck or Fortune?
It's typically seen as good luck.
Which is more transient, Luck or Fortune?
Luck is often seen as more fleeting.
Is "lady luck" about Fortune?
It personifies chance or Luck, often in games of chance.
Is a "lucky penny" related to Fortune?
It's more about Luck, but if it brings significant prosperity, it can relate to Fortune.
Can you "make your own Luck?"
The phrase means creating opportunities, but literal Luck is random.
Are "fortune cookies" related to wealth?
Not directly; they offer predictions or advice, tapping into Fortune's aspect of destiny.
If someone wins the lottery, is that Luck or Fortune?
It's good luck to win, but the winnings would be a fortune.
What's a "fortune teller?"
Someone who predicts a person's future or destiny.
Can you "change your Fortune?"
It's a phrase meaning altering one's path or circumstances.
Can someone "lose a fortune?"
Yes, it means they lost a significant amount of wealth.
If something is "fortunate," is it related to money?
Not always. It can mean lucky or favorable.
If someone is "born lucky," does it mean they have a Fortune?
Not necessarily. It means they often encounter good Luck.
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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.
