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Definition of serendipitous

serendipitous

/ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtəs/
ser · en · dip · i · tous
Adverb:serendipitously
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serendipitous Lexical Profile

serendipitous Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy, fortunate, or beneficial way.

Example

"A serendipitous laboratory accident led to the discovery of penicillin."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for serendipitous

• Nearby Words

serbian
serenade
serenader
serendipitous
serendipitously
serendipity
serene

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the noun 'serendipity', coined in 1754 by Horace Walpole in reference to the Persian fairy tale 'The Three Princes of Serendip' (an old name for Sri Lanka), whose heroes continually made fortunate discoveries by accident and sagacity.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Serendipitous. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/serendipitous
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