destiny and fate share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. destiny means “an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future”. fate means “an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future”. fate is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈdɛstəni/
1.n.an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
2.n.the ultimate agency regarded as predetermining the course of events (often personified as a woman)
“we are helpless in the face of destiny”
3.n.your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
“whatever my fortune may be”
/ˈfeɪt/
1.n.an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
2.n.the ultimate agency regarded as predetermining the course of events (often personified as a woman)
“we are helpless in the face of destiny”
3.n.your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
“whatever my fortune may be”
| destiny | fate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛstəni/ | /ˈfeɪt/ |
| Said | DEH-stuh-nee | fayt |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Letters | 7 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 3 | 4 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | fate | destiny |
Full entry for destiny · Full entry for fate · More comparisons