unfortunately
[ʌnˈfɔːtjʊnətli]
[ʌnˈfɔɹt͡ʃənɪtli]
Unfortunately, something bad happens unexpectedly.
You've probably heard this word before in conversations or news reports, and it's used when something goes wrong at the worst possible time. When you're trying to relax on vacation, but your flight gets delayed - that's unfortunate. Or imagine you were really looking forward to a big event, like a wedding or graduation, but it gets cancelled due to bad weather - that's unfortunate too. The word is often used when something doesn't go as planned, and it can add a hint of disappointment or sadness to the situation.
How common is "unfortunately"?
Word unfortunately 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
adverb
Happening through bad luck, or because of some unfortunate event.
alasregrettablysad to saysadlyunluckilyfortunatelyluckily
Real examples of "unfortunately" in context
