What does fate mean?
Fate is the idea that the course of events in a person's life is fixed in advance by a power beyond human control. In its most common use, it names this impersonal determining force — the destiny that awaits each person regardless of effort or intention. A closely related sense applies the word to a specific inevitable outcome, especially a grim one: a ship 'meets its fate' at sea, or two people 'share the same fate.' The word carries strong literary and philosophical weight, appearing everywhere from Greek tragedy, where characters struggle against prophecies they cannot escape, to everyday phrases like 'a twist of fate' and 'tempting fate,' which describes recklessly inviting misfortune. Connotations range from solemn acceptance to doom, and the word often contrasts implicitly with free will. Its English form derives from the Latin fatum, meaning literally 'that which has been spoken,' a reminder that the ancients pictured destiny as a divine pronouncement already uttered before a life began.
The power or principle believed to predetermine events, especially unavoidably and beyond human control.
"She trusted that fate would bring them together again."
Often personified in literature and mythology; contrasted with free will.
An inevitable outcome or final end of someone or something, especially an unfortunate one such as death or destruction.
"The expedition met its fate high on the mountain."
In this sense the plural 'fates' is natural when comparing outcomes across people or things.
Used chiefly when referring to different outcomes experienced by several people or things ('their fates diverged'); rarely used to count abstract destinies. Note also the Fates, capitalized, referring to the goddesses of destiny in Greek and Roman mythology.
"The three sisters' fates were bound together from childhood."
The ancient Romans believed your fate was literally 'spoken' at birth — the word comes from their phrase for what the gods had already said about you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fate
Fate entered English in the late 14th century via Old French from the Latin fatum, literally 'that which has been spoken,' a neuter past participle of fari, 'to speak' — reflecting the Roman belief that destiny was a divine utterance fixed at birth. The same verb fari lies behind a family of English words including fable, fame, and infant (originally one who is unable to speak). Derivatives formed directly from fate include fatal, fatalism, and fateful.
Related word forms
How fate is actually used
In the first sense, fate carries a neutral-to-doomed connotation depending on context and is common in literary and philosophical discussion; in the second sense it frequently appears in news and narrative writing ('the refugees shared the fate of their village'). The plural 'fates' is used when referring to different outcomes befalling multiple people or things, not as a count of destinies.
Easily confused with fate
Fate refers to inevitable destiny or an unavoidable outcome, while a fete is a festive celebration or fair.