Fluke

/fluːk/

Meaning & Definition

noun

An unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.

Winning the lottery was a total fluke; I never expected to get lucky.

A flat, elongated blade or fin, especially in fish or whales.

The whale's tail fluke created a spectacular splash as it breached the surface.

A parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda.

The veterinarian diagnosed the dog with a fluke infection after examining its stool.

verb

To fish for or catch fish using a fluke.

They decided to fluke for flatfish along the sandy shore.

Middle English fluke, from Old Norse flúka (flatfish).

fluke of luck:

An unlikely but fortunate occurrence.

catch a fluke:

To unexpectedly achieve something.

by a fluke:

By chance; unexpectedly.

A lucky or unexpected event.

Getting that job was just a fluke.

To achieve something without skill or intention.

He fluked the exam.