unfortunate

American  

[uhn-fawr-chuh-nit] / ʌnˈfɔr tʃə nɪt /

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.

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noun

1. an unfortunate person.

unfortunate British  

/ ʌnˈfɔːtʃənɪt /

adjective

1. causing or attended by misfortune

2. unlucky, unsuccessful, or unhappy

   an unfortunate character

3. regrettable or unsuitable

   an unfortunate speech

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noun

1. an unlucky person

Other Word Forms

• unfortunately adverb
• unfortunateness noun

Etymology

Origin of unfortunate

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

Example Sentences

"It's an amazing career, it's so unfortunate that we don't have the opportunity to join it anymore," they said.

From BBC

"I just feel like some things might get more expensive, which is unfortunate, and then the cycle just continues."

From BBC

The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said it was an "unfortunate overreach" that was "difficult to understand or justify".

From BBC

This brawl is unfortunate all around—not least for U.S. security.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It is unfortunate that did not happen in this case."

From BBC

Related Words

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