unfortunate
[ʌnˈfɔːtjʊnət]
[ʌnˈfɔɹt͡ʃənɪt]
An unfortunate event or situation is one that doesn't go as planned and often causes trouble.
When someone says something was unfortunate, they usually mean it led to problems, like a car accident on your way home from work. You might hear this after watching a sports game where a team loses because of a mistake: "That goal was an unfortunate turn of events." It can also apply to more everyday situations, such as spilling coffee on your new shirt or breaking something valuable by accident. The word is often used in the phrase "unfortunate timing" which refers to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, making things worse.
How common is "unfortunate"?
Word unfortunate is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
noun
An unlucky person; one who has fallen into bad circumstances.
adjective
Not favored by fortune
unluckyunsuccessfulfortunatelucky
Real examples of "unfortunate" in context
