06/21/2026
serendipity/ˌsɛr(ə)nˈdɪpɪti/Serendipity refers to the occurrence of events by chance in a happy, fortunate, and beneficial way. It is the act or faculty of stumbling upon valuable, pleasant, or interesting things when you weren’t searching for them.Examples in Everyday LifeFinding a rare book: You find a fascinating, out-of-print novel at a thrift store while browsing for a completely different item.Meeting someone special: You strike up a conversation with a stranger while sheltering from the rain and end up making a lifelong friend.Scientific breakthroughs: Discovering penicillin or inventing Post-it notes as a result of accidental circumstances rather than a direct goal.Quick Facts & OriginWord Origin: The word was coined by author Horace Walpole in 1754. He based it on the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip, whose heroes were always making fortunate discoveries by accident.Grammar: It is used as a noun. For instance, "Meeting her in that bookstore was pure serendipity."Related Words: The adjective form is serendipitous (happening by chance in an unexpected and pleasant way), and the adverb is serendipitously.To learn more about the concept or to read about famous accidental discoveries, check out the Wikipedia Serendipity Entry or explore word usage on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.