# unfortunate

/ənˈfɔɹtʃənət/ (US) · /ʌnfˈɔːtʃənət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unfortunate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unlucky

adjective · CEFR B1

having bad luck or happening because of bad luck.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. regrettable or unsuitable

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

describing a choice, comment, or action that was a mistake or not appropriate.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. an unlucky person

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a person who has very bad luck or lives in difficult conditions.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The charity provides warm meals for the unfortunates in our city.
- The storm left many unfortunates without a roof over their heads for several weeks.
- Victorian literature often features a wealthy protagonist who spends their weekends distributing alms to the unfortunates of the local parish to ease their own conscience.

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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.