Word
unfortunate
Phoneticsun·for·tu·nate, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈfɔɹtʃənət/
UK/ʌnfˈɔːtʃənət/
Definitions
01unlucky
B1 · Intermediate
adj. having bad luck or happening because of bad luck.
adj. not favoured by fortune; marked by or resulting from misfortune.
“It was unfortunate that the rain started just as the picnic began.”
“The company suffered an unfortunate series of financial setbacks just as they were preparing to launch their most ambitious product line.”
02regrettable or unsuitable
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. describing a choice, comment, or action that was a mistake or not appropriate.
adj. regrettable, inappropriate, or tactless in nature.
“The minister made an unfortunate remark about the local community.”
“The CEO's choice of words during the press conference was highly unfortunate, leading to a significant drop in the firm's share price.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03an unlucky person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal · Literary
n. a person who has very bad luck or lives in difficult conditions.
n. a person who has fallen into bad circumstances or suffers from persistent ill-fortune.
“The charity provides food and shelter for the unfortunates of the city.”
“The novel focuses on the lives of various unfortunates who were cast out of society during the industrial revolution.”
Usage
Often used as a collective noun with 'the' to refer to a group of people.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unfortunate” in context.
Verb
01. prove unfortunate
“The decision to sell the company so early proved unfortunate in the long run.”
verb + adj
02. seem unfortunate
“The timing of the announcement seemed unfortunate, given the current economic crisis.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. unfortunate choice of words
“The politician's unfortunate choice of words caused a lot of anger among voters.”
adj + noun + of + noun
04. unfortunate coincidence
“By an unfortunate coincidence, both candidates arrived for the interview at the same time.”
adj + noun
05. unfortunate incident
“The school principal apologized for the unfortunate incident during the field trip.”
adj + noun
06. unfortunate that
“It is unfortunate that we didn't have enough time to finish the project.”
adj + that-clause
Adverb
07. deeply unfortunate
“The loss of such a talented young artist is deeply unfortunate for the community.”
adv + adj
08. highly unfortunate
“It is highly unfortunate that the meeting was canceled at such short notice.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“All manner of unlikely and unfortunate actions can lead to the loss of fossils from museums.” “There have also been reports of ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps species showing a seeming preference for specific plants , like understory palm trees and moss carpets , as death sites for their unfortunate hosts.” Etymology
From un- + fortunate, doublet of infortunate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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