Fate
noun /feɪt/ — The development of events beyond a person's control — the outcome regarded as predetermined.
Definition
The development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power; the two possible outcomes for something, especially death, ruin, or destruction.
Beyond the definition
Fate is the oldest concept in every culture's vocabulary — the Greek Moirai, the Norse Norns, the Roman Fates. The word carries all of them: the sense of a thread that cannot be cut, an outcome that cannot be avoided. Whether you believe in fate or not, the word names a real feeling.
Origin & history
From Latin fata — things spoken, from fari: to speak. What has been spoken (by the gods) — fate as the divine utterance. The word of the universe about your outcome.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She accepted it as fate — not passively, but with the calm of having done everything possible.
Fate and choice are in constant negotiation: the given circumstances, the decisions within them.
To call something fate is to say: this was not accidental, and fighting it is fighting the structure of things.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Fate” when the meaning fits your context: The development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power; the two possible outcomes for something, especially death, ruin, or destruction.
Synonyms
destiny, fortune, doom, lot, predetermination
Antonyms
chance, choice, freedom
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Facing a Towering Maze
An adult stands at the entrance of a complex, towering stone maze, faced with a dark, imposing guardian figure.
The maze and its guardian represent the development of events outside the person's control, visualizing the concept of fate. The trial they are about to face seems predetermined, with death or ruin as potential outcomes in this complex, difficult life struggle.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Fate" mean?
Fate is noun meaning: The development of events beyond a person's control — the outcome regarded as predetermined.. The development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power; the two possible outcomes for something, especially death, ruin, or destruction.
Where does the word "Fate" come from?
From Latin fata — things spoken, from fari: to speak. What has been spoken (by the gods) — fate as the divine utterance. The word of the universe about your outcome.