Fate vs. Luck: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Fate refers to a predetermined course of events, often seen as inevitable or controlled by a higher power. Luck is the occurrence of events by chance, without control or predictability.
Key Differences
Fate is often viewed as a predetermined course that is inevitable and unchangeable, whereas Luck represents random chance, an unpredictable and spontaneous factor in life.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
In many beliefs, Fate is seen as a cosmic script or divine plan, guiding individuals towards a predestined path, while Luck is considered a momentary, spontaneous occurrence with no inherent design or purpose.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate implies a sense of destiny or a predetermined end, often beyond human control, contrasting with Luck, which is transient and can be perceived as good or bad based on circumstances.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
While Fate suggests a fixed journey or outcome in life, Luck encompasses the random elements that can alter or influence one's path in unforeseen ways.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
The concept of Fate often involves a philosophical or spiritual dimension, contemplating the extent of free will, whereas Luck is more associated with chance, probability, and often, superstition.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A predetermined course of events
Random chance influencing events
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Control
Generally seen as beyond human control
Often viewed as a random and spontaneous
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Influence on Life
Seen as guiding life towards a set outcome
Perceived as altering life's course randomly
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Fate and Luck Definitions
Fate
The development of events beyond a person's control.
It was her fate to become a great leader.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate
An inevitable and necessary occurrence.
Their reunion seemed like an act of fate.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate
The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events
Fate did not favor his career.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Luck
A serendipitous event or circumstance.
It was sheer luck that they met.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate
The inevitable events predestined by this force
It was her fate to marry a lout.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
A chance happening of fortunate or adverse events.
She found $100 on the street, what luck!
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate
A final result or consequence; an outcome
What was the fate of your project?.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
Good fortune or a happy outcome.
His luck in the lottery changed his life.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate
An unfavorable outcome in life; doom or death
Suffered a fate worse than death.
The island where the explorer met his fate.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune
They met one day out of pure luck.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
Fates Greek & Roman Mythology The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, who control human destiny. Used with the.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
One's personal fate or lot
It was just my luck to win a trip I couldn't take.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
The effect, consequence, outcome, or inevitable events predetermined by this cause.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
To gain success or something desirable by chance
Lucked into a good apartment.
Lucked out in finding that rare book.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence, especially a favourable one.
The raffle is just a matter of luck.
Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success.
I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fifty dollar bill on the street.
Gilbert had some bad luck yesterday — he got pick-pocketed and lost fifty dollars.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
Destiny; often with a connotation of death, ruin, misfortune, etc.
Accept your fate.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success.
He blew on the dice for luck.
I wish you lots of luck for the exam tomorrow.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
(mythology) Fate (one of the goddesses said to control the destiny of human beings).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
Success.
I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck.
He has a lot of luck with the ladies, perhaps it is because of his new motorbike.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
(biochemistry) The products of a chemical reaction in their final form in the biosphere.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
(embryology) The mature endpoint of a region, group of cells or individual cell in an embryo, including all changes leading to that mature endpoint
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
To find something through good fortune; used with into, on, onto or upon.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
(transitive) To foreordain or predetermine, to make inevitable.
The oracle's prediction fated Oedipus to kill his father; not all his striving could change what would occur.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
That which happens to a person; an event, good or ill, affecting one's interests or happiness, and which is deemed casual; a course or series of such events regarded as occurring by chance; chance; hap; fate; fortune; often, one's habitual or characteristic fortune; as, good, bad, ill, or hard luck. Luck is often used by itself to mean good luck; as, luck is better than skill; a stroke of luck.
If thou dost play with him at any game,Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck,He beats thee 'gainst the odds.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
A fixed decree by which the order of things is prescribed; the immutable law of the universe; inevitable necessity; the force by which all existence is determined and conditioned.
Necessity and chanceApproach not me; and what I will is fate.
Beyond and above the Olympian gods lay the silent, brooding, everlasting fate of which victim and tyrant were alike the instruments.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
Your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you);
Whatever my fortune may be
Deserved a better fate
Has a happy lot
The luck of the Irish
A victim of circumstances
Success that was her portion
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
Appointed lot; allotted life; arranged or predetermined event; destiny; especially, the final lot; doom; ruin; death.
The great, th'important day, big with the fateOf Cato and of Rome.
Our wills and fates do so contrary runThat our devices still are overthrown.
The whizzing arrow sings,And bears thy fate, Antinous, on its wings.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another;
Bad luck caused his downfall
We ran into each other by pure chance
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
The element of chance in the affairs of life; the unforeseen and unestimated conitions considered as a force shaping events; fortune; esp., opposing circumstances against which it is useless to struggle; as, fate was, or the fates were, against him.
A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.
Sometimes an hour of Fate's serenest weather strikes through our changeful sky its coming beams.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Luck
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome;
It was my good luck to be there
They say luck is a lady
It was as if fortune guided his hand
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, sometimes called the Destinies, or Parcæwho were supposed to determine the course of human life. They are represented, one as holding the distaff, a second as spinning, and the third as cutting off the thread.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
An event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
The ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events (often personified as a woman);
We are helpless in the face of Destiny
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
Your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you);
Whatever my fortune may be
Deserved a better fate
Has a happy lot
The luck of the Irish
A victim of circumstances
Success that was her portion
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
Decree or designate beforehand;
She was destined to become a great pianist
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fate
A predetermined state or end.
He believed it was his fate to win the race.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate
A destiny predetermined by the cosmos.
The prophecy foretold his fate as a hero.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Fate
The inevitable outcome of a series of events.
Fate brought them together against all odds.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is fate always predetermined?
Yes, fate is typically seen as a predetermined course of events.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is luck always positive?
No, luck can be either positive (good luck) or negative (bad luck).
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Do all cultures believe in fate?
Beliefs in fate vary widely among different cultures.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is luck a matter of perspective?
Yes, what is considered lucky can vary based on individual perspective.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is fate a religious concept?
Fate can be a religious or philosophical concept, depending on the context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Are fate and destiny the same?
Fate and destiny are similar, often used interchangeably, but may have nuanced differences in some contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can luck be a skill?
While some people talk about "making their own luck," luck itself is not a skill.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can people be born lucky?
The idea of being "born lucky" is a cultural belief, not a proven fact.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is it possible to measure luck?
Luck, being random and subjective, cannot be measured scientifically.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Does fate apply to all aspects of life?
Some believe fate applies to all aspects, while others see it as limited to certain areas.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is luck linked to karma?
In some beliefs, luck is linked to karma, but this is not a universal view.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can luck be a curse?
Sometimes what seems like luck can have negative consequences, so it can be seen as a curse.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Does luck change over time?
Luck, by its nature, is random and can change at any time.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can fate be known in advance?
Some believe fate can be foretold, but this is not universally accepted.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is belief in fate common?
Belief in fate is common in many cultures and philosophies.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is fate always serious?
Fate is often viewed seriously, but interpretations can vary.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Does everyone experience luck?
Most people experience events they attribute to luck at some point.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Do certain objects influence fate?
Some cultures believe objects can influence fate, but there's no scientific proof.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.