Added 9 October 2026 fateful /ˈfeɪtfəl/ adjective Categories: Describing WordsRare Words In Latin: fatidicus Wiktionary adjective ! Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fateful at Wordnik → Where our words come from → Having momentous consequences; of decisive importance. that fateful meeting of the U.N. when...it declared war on North Korea Ominously prophetic. (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin. the stock market crashed on Black Friday Origin From fate + -ful. From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA) Related Words: fatalportentousforebodingpropheticalpropheticdecisiveinevitablecalamitousdisastrousblackunfortunateominous Back to today's word