Dictionary / serendipity
serendipity
- noun
- formed in English
The phenomenon of making an unplanned, fortunate discovery through a combination of unexpected circumstances and insightful recognition.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “serendipity” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- countableuncountableThe phenomenon of making an unplanned, fortunate discovery through a combination of unexpected circumstances and insightful recognition.
After I got here, in the first lockdown, my mum suddenly passed. It was the week of my final interview with the Mayor. It is serendipity that I am here when my dad really needs me.2020 December 2, Andy Byford talks to Paul Clifton, “I enjoy really big challenges...”, in Rail, page 54:
- countableuncountableAn unsought, unintended or unexpected, but fortunate, discovery or learning experience that occurs by accident.
2007, Erin McKean, speech at TED Serendipity is when you find things you weren't looking for because finding what you are looking for is so damn difficult.
- countableuncountableThe occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (1)
- noungood luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)serendipity
- EnglishSerendip “variant of Serendib: Ceylon, Sri Lanka” + -ity
From Serendip (“variant of Serendib: Ceylon, Sri Lanka”) + -ity. Coined by English writer and politician Horace Walpole in 1754 based on the Persian story of the Three Princes of Serendip, who (Walpole wrote to a friend) were “always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of”.
Derivatives — words built from “serendipity”
Phrases & compounds
Want to go deeper? See also “serendipity” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “serendipity” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: The phenomenon of making an unplanned, fortunate discovery through a combination of unexpected circumstances and insightful recognition.
After I got here, in the first lockdown, my mum suddenly passed. It was the week of my final interview with the Mayor. It is serendipity that I am here when my dad really needs me.2020 December 2, Andy Byford talks to Paul Clifton, “I enjoy really big challenges...”, in Rail, page 54:
nounMeaning: An unsought, unintended or unexpected, but fortunate, discovery or learning experience that occurs by accident.
2007, Erin McKean, speech at TED Serendipity is when you find things you weren't looking for because finding what you are looking for is so damn difficult.
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
serendipity
/ˌsɛɹ.ənˈdɪp.ɪ.ti/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
serendipity
/ˌsɛɹ.ənˈdɪp.ɪ.ti/ · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “serendipity” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “serendipity” and what each means:
Step 4 — Original meaning
Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 5 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — serendipity
Origin: B. English
Journey: English serendipity ← English Serendip + -ity
Some derivatives: serendipitist, serendipitous, serendipitously
Built from: Serendip “variant of Serendib: Ceylon, Sri Lanka” + -ity
Etymology: From Serendip (“variant of Serendib: Ceylon, Sri Lanka”) + -ity. Coined by English writer and politician Horace Walpole in 1754 based on the Persian story of the Three Princes of Serendip, who (Walpole wrote to a friend) were “always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of”.
Sources: Wiktionary “serendipity” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/serendipity#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/serendipity