Word a Day
serendipity
What does serendipity mean?
serendipity (noun): the phenomenon of making an unplanned, fortunate discovery through a combination of unexpected circumstances and insightful recognition.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce serendipity?
/ˌsɛɹənˈdɪpɪti/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does serendipity come from?
From Serendip (“variant of Serendib: Ceylon, Sri Lanka”) + -ity.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Words related to serendipity
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “serendipity”?
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What does “serendipity” mean?
the pleasure obtained by the fulfillment of one or more needs or desires; a sense of contentment with one's situation and achievements
Not quite: that's what satisfaction means.
the phenomenon of making an unplanned, fortunate discovery through a combination of unexpected circumstances and insightful recognition
Right! That's what “serendipity” means.
a social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action
Not quite: that's what obligation means.
a tool for felling trees or chopping wood etc. consisting of a heavy head flattened to a blade on one side, and a handle attached to it
Not quite: that's what axe means.
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