What does it mean if something is described as serendipitous?

When something is described as serendipitous, it refers to events or discoveries that happen by chance but in a fortunate and beneficial way. This term often evokes the idea of unexpected, positive surprises that occur without any deliberate intention or planning. For instance, scientific discoveries that happen unintentionally but lead to significant advancements can be termed serendipitous.

The other choices depict concepts that are the opposite of serendipity. Describing something as occurring by design suggests a premeditated and intentional action, which contrasts with the element of chance inherent in serendipity. Similarly, describing an event as disastrous implies a negative outcome, while something carefully planned suggests a systematic approach that lacks the spontaneity associated with serendipitous events. Thus, the essence of serendipity lies in the wonderful interplay of chance and fortune.