Imagine that one day you have to walk home by a different route, because they’re doing construction on the main street to mitigate the traffic congestion. You walk by a small restaurant you’ve never seen before, and go in for a look. Inside, you find delicious food, and singing waiters who serenade you with beautiful arias from your favorite operas. If you hadn’t been forced into this different path, you’d never have found this restaurant. That’s “serendipity” – the accidental discovery of something good or beneficial. In fact, serendipity is sometimes called a “happy accident”.

Example:  “She met her future husband through serendipity, when they were seated together at a friend’s wedding party.”