This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
unfortunate
[ uhn-fawr-chuh-nit ]
/ ʌnˈfɔr tʃə nɪt /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
suffering from bad luck: an unfortunate person.
unfavorable or inauspicious: an unfortunate beginning.
regrettable or deplorable: an unfortunate remark.
marked by or inviting misfortune: an unfortunate development.
lamentable; sad: the unfortunate death of her parents.
noun
an unfortunate person.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
OTHER WORDS FROM unfortunate
un·for·tu·nate·ly, adverbun·for·tu·nate·ness, nounWords nearby unfortunate
unforgivable, unforgiving, unformatted, unformed, unforthcoming, unfortunate, unfortunately, unfounded, unfranked income, unfreeze, unfrequented
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use unfortunate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for unfortunate
unfortunate
/ (ʌnˈfɔːtʃənɪt) /
adjective
causing or attended by misfortune
unlucky, unsuccessful, or unhappyan unfortunate character
regrettable or unsuitablean unfortunate speech
noun
an unlucky person
Derived forms of unfortunate
unfortunateness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012