regrettably

American  

[ri-gret-uh-blee] / rɪˈgrɛt ə bli /

adverb

1. unfortunately.

   Regrettably, those countries that have contributed the least to the problem are facing the gravest consequences.

   The student’s regrettably short attention span resulted in a series of near failures.

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Usage

What does regrettably mean? Regrettably means in a manner of regret or disappointment, as in Regrettably, I won’t be able to go to your birthday celebration. Regrettably is most often used at the beginning of a sentence to describe how the speaker or writer feels about what follows in the rest of the sentence. Example: I have regrettably made a choice that has ruined my evening plans.

Other Word Forms

• unregrettably adverb

Etymology

Origin of regrettably

regrettab(le) ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Secular and Christian popular culture swim in opposing halves of divided entertainment waters, despite broadcast TV’s lengthy history of featuring Christian-leaning shows, including “Touched by an Angel,” “Joan of Arcadia” and, however regrettably, “7th Heaven.”

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

“While we did not want to end a partnership that has spanned 45 years, we have regrettably determined that the termination of our agreement is the only path forward,” Sesame Workshop said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

In response, Lamola said: "We reiterate that broad-based black economic empowerment is not reverse racism as regrettably insinuated by the ambassador."

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

But I heard him be critical about Israel in a way that I didn’t understand, and regrettably didn’t pursue.

From Slate • Aug. 7, 2025

So you eat more and eat more quickly, bite after bite, until you feel not satisfied, exactly, but simply, regrettably, full.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

• acutely
• badly
• grievously
• intensely
• severely
• sorely
• very