forlorn hope: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Historical
Quick answer
What does “forlorn hope” mean?
A desperate or hopeless undertaking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A desperate or hopeless undertaking; a group of soldiers chosen to lead a dangerous attack with little chance of survival.
Any desperate venture or person/group undertaking it; a faint or desperate hope.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties understand and use the term. Slightly more likely to appear in British historical/narrative contexts due to its origin in European warfare.
Connotations
Identical connotations of doomed bravery.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but recognised by educated speakers. More likely in written than spoken language.
Grammar
How to Use “forlorn hope” in a Sentence
The [soldiers/team] led a forlorn hope.It was a forlorn hope to [verb phrase].Their last forlorn hope was to [verb phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forlorn hope” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare as a verb phrase) They will forlornly hope for a miracle.
American English
- (Rare as a verb phrase) He was forlornly hoping the cheque would arrive.
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable for the phrase. 'Forlornly':) He waited forlornly by the phone.
American English
- (Not applicable for the phrase. 'Forlornly':) She glanced forlornly at the empty plate.
adjective
British English
- (The phrase is a compound noun. 'Forlorn' alone:) She had a forlorn expression.
- They made a forlorn hope attack at dawn.
American English
- (The phrase is a compound noun. 'Forlorn' alone:) The forlorn little cafe was closing.
- It was a forlorn hope proposition from the start.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical use for a desperate, unlikely-to-succeed business strategy or bid.
Academic
Used in historical or literary analysis to describe doomed endeavours.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used for a hopeless romantic pursuit or a futile attempt to fix something.
Technical
Specific military history term for a detachment leading an assault.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forlorn hope”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “forlorn hope”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forlorn hope”
- Using it to mean simply 'sad hope' without the element of a desperate *action* or *venture*.
- Confusing it with 'forlorn' on its own.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'long shot' would be more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it contains the word 'hope', it refers primarily to a desperate *action* or *mission* undertaken with little chance of success, not just a feeling.
It originates from military history (16th-17th century), from the Dutch 'verloren hoop' meaning 'lost troop'—a detachment of soldiers sent ahead on a perilous mission. The English later folk-etymologised 'hoop' to 'hope'.
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically in business, politics, sports, etc., to describe any near-hopeless endeavour undertaken with courage or desperation.
A 'long shot' is simply unlikely. A 'forlorn hope' carries stronger connotations of desperation, danger, and a courageous or tragic willingness to face near-certain failure.
A desperate or hopeless undertaking.
Forlorn hope is usually formal, literary, historical in register.
Forlorn hope: in British English it is pronounced /fəˌlɔːn ˈhəʊp/, and in American English it is pronounced /fərˌlɔːrn ˈhoʊp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a forlorn hope.”
- “The last forlorn hope.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FOR soldiers, it's a LORN (old word for lost) HOPE' – a lost hope for soldiers.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOPE IS A SOLDIER ON A SUICIDE MISSION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a 'forlorn hope'?