# misfortune

/mɪsˈfɔɹtʃən/ (US) · /mɪsfˈɔːtʃuːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/misfortune
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. bad luck

noun · CEFR B2

the general state of having bad luck or things going wrong.

For teachers: the abstract state of bad luck or ill fortune. Uncountable in this sense.

- He had the misfortune of losing his keys on the very first day of his holiday.
- The project failed not through lack of effort, but through a series of events attributed to pure misfortune.

### 2. an unlucky event

noun · CEFR B2

a specific unlucky event, accident, or problem.

For teachers: a specific instance of bad luck or an unfortunate accident. Countable in this sense.

- Losing his job was a great misfortune for his family.
- The explorer suffered many misfortunes during the expedition, including a broken leg and the loss of his primary supplies.

## Examples

- He had the misfortune of losing his keys in the snow.
- The business failed due to a series of financial misfortunes rather than poor management.
- While some viewed his sudden illness as a personal misfortune, others saw it as the inevitable result of years of overwork and neglect.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.