Lucky vs. fortunate: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Lucky often implies a more random or chance-based positive outcome, while fortunate can suggest a broader or more stable state of having good fortune or being well-off. Fortunate can feel slightly more formal than lucky.
What they have in common
Both lucky and fortunate describe a situation or condition where someone experiences good outcomes or favorable situations often without explicit effort or expectation.
Examples
lucky
- She was lucky to find her keys under the couch.
- He’s always been lucky with weather on his vacations.
- You were lucky to have caught the last train home.
fortunate
- They were fortunate to have avoided the storm.
- She feels fortunate to have such supportive friends.
- We are fortunate to have good health care.
Which one is more common?
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