serendipity (English)
Where does "serendipity" come from?
The English word 'serendipity' was coined in 1754 by the English writer and politician Horace Walpole[1]. He formed the word by combining 'Serendip', a variant of 'Serendib' referring to Ceylon or Sri Lanka, with the suffix '-ity'[1]. Walpole based the coinage on a Persian fairy tale about 'The Three Princes of Serendip', whose characters were described as constantly making fortunate discoveries by accident and sagacity of things they were not originally seeking[1].
Full etymology tree
- serendipity (English), 'The phenomenon of making an unplanned, fortunate discovery through a combination of unexpected circumstances and insightful recognition.'
- suffix Serendip (English), 'Alternative form of Serendib.'
- derived Serendib (English), 'An ancient name of Ceylon or Sri Lanka.'
- suffix -ity (English), 'Used to form an uncountable noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.'
- suffix Serendip (English), 'Alternative form of Serendib.'
Ancestors
- Serendip (English)
Descendants and derived words
- serendipitous (English)
- serendipitously (English)
- serendipity berry (English)
Sources
Updated October 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris