Unfortunate: meaning, definitions and examples

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unfortunate

 

[ ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənət ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

unlucky

Having or marked by bad fortune; unlucky.

Synonyms

hapless, hard luck, ill-fated, unlucky

Examples of usage

  • She felt unfortunate that she lost her job during the pandemic.
  • It was unfortunate that the weather ruined their outdoor event.
Context #2 | Adjective

regrettable

Deserving or inciting pity; regrettable; unfortunate circumstances.

Synonyms

deplorable, pitiful, regrettable, sad

Examples of usage

  • It is unfortunate that she didn't get the job after all her hard work.
  • The unfortunate incident could have been avoided with better communication.

Translations

Translations of the word "unfortunate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 infeliz

🇮🇳 दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण (durbhāgyapūrṇ)

🇩🇪 unglücklich

🇮🇩 malang

🇺🇦 нещасний

🇵🇱 nieszczęśliwy

🇯🇵 不幸な (fukōna)

🇫🇷 malheureux

🇪🇸 desafortunado

🇹🇷 talihsiz

🇰🇷 불행한 (bulhaenghan)

🇸🇦 غير محظوظ (ghayr maḥẓūẓ)

🇨🇿 nešťastný

🇸🇰 nešťastný

🇨🇳 不幸的 (bùxìng de)

🇸🇮 nesrečen

🇮🇸 óheppinn

🇰🇿 сәтсіз

🇬🇪 უსიამოვნო (usiamovno)

🇦🇿 bədbəxt

🇲🇽 desafortunado

Word origin

The word 'unfortunate' originated from the Latin word 'unfortunatus', which means luckless. It has been used in the English language since the late 14th century. The term has evolved to describe situations or events that bring bad luck or cause distress. Over time, 'unfortunate' has become a common adjective to express sympathy or empathy towards someone facing adversity or hardship.

See also: unfortunately.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,326, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.