unfortunate

[uhn-fawr-chuh-nit]

adjective

1. suffering from bad luck.

   an unfortunate person.

   Synonyms: hapless, unsuccessful

2. unfavorable or inauspicious.

   an unfortunate beginning.

3. regrettable or deplorable.

   an unfortunate remark.

4. marked by or inviting misfortune.

   an unfortunate development.

5. lamentable; sad.

   the unfortunate death of her parents.

noun

1. an unfortunate person.

unfortunate

/ ʌnˈfɔːtʃənɪt /

adjective

1. causing or attended by misfortune

2. unlucky, unsuccessful, or unhappy

   an unfortunate character

3. regrettable or unsuitable

   an unfortunate speech

noun

1. an unlucky person

Other Word Forms

• unfortunately adverb
• unfortunateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unfortunate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; un- ¹ + fortunate

Example Sentences

The unfortunate truth is that throughout his career as basketball’s ultimate passer, he never quite found a team to get him to the NBA’s mountaintop.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's unfortunate that we haven't got Josh and Pat with us, but we still have a fair bit of experience in the bowling attack."

Read more on Barron's

By early June this year, an estimated 38 million tons of Sargassum drifted toward the coastlines of the Caribbean islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and northern South America, setting an unfortunate new record.

Read more on Science Daily

And, while it’s not fun to think about, keep saving in the unfortunate case that you two do split.

Read more on MarketWatch

"I think that's incredibly unfortunate. But we have to get back up in the saddle," she said.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• adverse 
• damaging 
• deplorable 
• disastrous 
• inappropriate 
• inauspicious 
• lamentable 
• regrettable 
• unlucky 
• untoward