Fortuitous vs. Casual: What's the Difference?
By Harlon Moss & Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 24, 2024
Fortuitous refers to something happening by chance, often with a positive outcome, while casual describes something done without much thought, planning, or formality.
Key Differences
Fortuitous events occur by chance and often have positive or beneficial results. For example, meeting an old friend unexpectedly at an airport can be described as fortuitous. Casual, on the other hand, refers to a relaxed, informal approach or manner. A casual meeting might be one without a strict agenda, where people converse freely.
Fortuitous situations are typically serendipitous and unplanned. They often imply a sense of luck or fortune, such as winning a raffle without expecting to. Casual situations, however, are characterized by their lack of formality and seriousness, like wearing jeans to a casual dinner with friends.
In terms of outcomes, fortuitous events usually carry a positive connotation, suggesting that something good came out of chance. Casual contexts, while neutral, emphasize ease and simplicity, like a casual remark made without deep consideration.
While fortuitous highlights the unexpected and often beneficial nature of an event, casual underscores the informal, unplanned nature of an action or setting. Both terms deal with the absence of strict planning, but fortuitous focuses on chance and positive outcomes, while casual focuses on a relaxed and informal approach.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Happening by chance, often positively
Done without much thought or formality
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Nature
Unexpected and beneficial
Informal and relaxed
Context
Events and occurrences
Actions, attire, and attitudes
Connotation
Positive, lucky
Neutral, relaxed
Examples
A fortuitous meeting with an old friend
Casual dress code at a party
Fortuitous and Casual Definitions
Fortuitous
Occurring unexpectedly and luckily.
Finding the missing document was a fortuitous discovery.
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Casual
Unconcerned or indifferent.
She made a casual remark about the weather.
Fortuitous
Resulting in good fortune by chance.
Winning the lottery was a fortuitous event for the family.
Casual
Being without ceremony or formality; relaxed or informal
A casual evening with friends.
Fortuitous
Happening without planning but beneficially.
Their encounter was purely fortuitous but led to a lifelong friendship.
Casual
Unpremeditated or offhand
A casual remark.
Fortuitous
Happening by chance, often with a positive outcome.
It was fortuitous that they met on the train and became business partners.
Casual
Suited for everyday wear or informal use
Casual clothing.
Fortuitous
Involving serendipity and luck.
The scientist made a fortuitous breakthrough in her research.
Casual
Not serious or thorough; superficial
A casual inspection.
A casual understanding of French.
Fortuitous
Happening by accident or chance.
Casual
Showing little interest or concern; nonchalant
"speaks with casual aplomb about being shot at" (Janelle Brown).
Fortuitous
Resulting in good fortune; lucky.
Casual
Occurring or being such by chance
"in the first months when I was pregnant, before it was obvious to the casual observer" (Anne Roiphe).
Fortuitous
Ing by chance; coincidental, accidental.
Casual
Occurring at irregular or infrequent intervals; occasional
Casual employment at a factory.
A casual correspondence with a former teacher.
Fortuitous
Ing by a lucky chance; lucky or fortunate.
Casual
Employed on an irregular basis
Casual workers.
Fortuitous
(legal) happening independently of human will.
Casual
Socialized with only occasionally; not close or intimate
A casual acquaintance.
Fortuitous
Happening by chance; coming or occuring unexpectedly, or without any known cause; chance; as, the fortuitous concourse of atoms.
It was from causes seemingly fortuitous . . . that all the mighty effects of the Reformation flowed.
So as to throw a glancing and fortuitous light upon the whole.
Casual
Being or occurring between sexual partners who are not in an established relationship
Casual lovers.
Casual sex.
Fortuitous
Happening independently of human will or means of foresight; resulting from unavoidable physical causes.
Casual
One that serves or appears at irregular intervals, especially a temporary worker.
Fortuitous
Having no cause or apparent cause;
A causeless miracle
Fortuitous encounters--strange accidents of fortune
We cannot regard artistic invention as...uncaused and unrelated to the times
Casual
Casuals Casualwear
Sent my casuals to the cleaners.
Fortuitous
Occurring by happy chance;
Profits were enhanced by a fortuitous drop in the cost of raw materials
Casual
A soldier temporarily attached to a unit while awaiting permanent assignment.
Casual
Happening by chance.
They only had casual meetings.
Casual
Coming without regularity; occasional or incidental.
The purchase of donuts was just a casual expense.
Casual
Employed irregularly.
He was just a casual worker.
Casual
Careless.
Casual
Happening or coming to pass without design.
Casual
(of behavior, usage, or milieu) Informal; relaxed.
Tone in casual interactions
Casual
(of clothing or utensils) Designed for informal or everyday use.
Business casual
Pants in the casual wear collection
Casual
A worker who is only working for a company occasionally, not as its permanent employee.
Casual
A soldier temporarily at a place of duty, usually en route to another place of duty.
Casual
A member of a group of football hooligans who wear expensive designer clothing to avoid police attention; see casual (subculture).
Casual
One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.
Casual
A player of casual games.
The devs dumbed the game down so the casuals could enjoy it.
Casual
(fandom slang) A person whose engagement with media is relaxed or superficial.
Casual
A tramp.
Casual
Shoes suitable for everyday use, as opposed to more formal footwear.
Casual
Happening or coming to pass without design, and without being foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance.
Casual breaks, in the general system.
Casual
Coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual expenses.
A constant habit, rather than a casual gesture.
Casual
One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.
Casual
Marked by blithe unconcern;
An ability to interest casual students
Showed a casual disregard for cold weather
An utterly insouciant financial policy
An elegantly insouciant manner
Drove his car with nonchalant abandon
Was polite in a teasing nonchalant manner
Casual
Without or seeming to be without plan or method; offhand;
A casual remark
Information collected by casual methods and in their spare time
Casual
Suited for everyday use;
Casual clothes
Everyday clothes
Casual
Occurring or appearing or singled out by chance;
Their accidental meeting led to a renewal of their friendship
Seek help from casual passers-by
A casual meeting
A chance occurrence
Casual
Hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough;
A casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws
A passing glance
Perfunctory courtesy
Casual
Employed in a specified capacity from time to time;
Casual employment
A casual correspondence with a former teacher
An occasional worker
Casual
Characterized by a feeling of irresponsibility;
A broken back is nothing to be casual about; it is no fooling matter
Casual
Natural and unstudied;
Using their Christian names in a casual way
Lectured in a free-and-easy style
Casual
Not showing effort or strain;
A difficult feat performed with casual mastery
Careless grace
Casual
Relaxed and informal in manner or style.
He wore casual clothes to the weekend barbecue.
Casual
Done without much thought or planning.
They had a casual conversation about their weekend plans.
Casual
Not formal or ceremonious.
The party had a casual atmosphere with music and games.
Casual
Suitable for everyday wear or use.
Casual Fridays at work allow for jeans and t-shirts.
FAQs
Can an event be both fortuitous and casual?
An event can be casually planned and still have a fortuitous outcome, but the terms describe different aspects.
Is fortuitous always positive?
Fortuitous often has a positive connotation, implying a beneficial chance occurrence.
Is there a synonym for casual?
Informal is a synonym for casual, indicating a relaxed approach or manner.
Can fortuitous refer to negative events?
While typically positive, fortuitous can technically refer to any chance event, though it’s less common.
What does fortuitous mean?
Fortuitous means happening by chance, often with a positive or lucky outcome.
What does casual mean?
Casual means relaxed, informal, or done without much thought or planning.
Is there a synonym for fortuitous?
Serendipitous is a synonym for fortuitous, indicating a beneficial chance occurrence.
Is casual always informal?
Yes, casual implies a lack of formality and a relaxed approach.
Can casual refer to a person’s attitude?
Yes, casual can describe a person’s relaxed or unconcerned attitude.
Does casual imply relaxation?
Yes, casual implies a relaxed and informal approach or style.
Can fortuitous describe a relationship?
Fortuitous can describe the chance nature of how a relationship began, e.g., "Their fortuitous encounter blossomed into a close friendship."
How is fortuitous used in a sentence?
Fortuitous is used to describe an event happening by chance, e.g., "Their fortuitous meeting led to a successful business partnership."
Does fortuitous imply planning?
No, fortuitous implies the absence of planning, occurring by chance.
Does casual have a neutral connotation?
Casual typically has a neutral or relaxed connotation.
Is fortuitous related to luck?
Yes, fortuitous often relates to lucky or serendipitous events.
Does fortuitous have a neutral connotation?
Fortuitous generally has a positive connotation, though it can be neutral in rare cases.
Can casual describe a relationship?
Yes, casual can describe a relationship that is not serious or formal, e.g., "They were in a casual relationship."
How is casual used in a sentence?
Casual is used to describe something informal, e.g., "She preferred a casual dress code for the office."
Can casual describe clothing?
Yes, casual describes clothing that is comfortable and informal.
Is casual related to effort?
Casual often implies a lack of significant effort or formality.
About Author
Written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Co-written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
