unfortunate
B1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
suffering from bad luck; unfavorable or regrettable
causing or accompanied by misfortune or failure; inappropriate or ill-advised
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can describe both events/outcomes and people. When describing a person, it often implies they are deserving of pity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though 'unfortunate' is slightly more common in formal British contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/euphemistic in British English (e.g., 'an unfortunate incident'). In American English, can be more direct.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is unfortunate that + clausefind it unfortunate thatunfortunate for + noun phraseunfortunate + nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “an unfortunate turn of events”
- “the unfortunate victim of circumstance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe negative outcomes, delays, or PR issues (e.g., 'an unfortunate drop in quarterly earnings').
Academic
Used in formal analysis to denote regrettable outcomes or historical mishaps.
Everyday
Commonly used to express sympathy or describe minor bad luck (e.g., 'That's so unfortunate!').
Technical
Rare in hard sciences; may appear in social sciences to describe adverse conditions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- He spoke unfortunately bluntly to the client.
- The package arrived unfortunately late.
American English
- She unfortunately missed the deadline by one day.
- The team played unfortunately poorly in the final.
adjective
British English
- It was an unfortunate choice of words during the speech.
- The train delay was most unfortunate for commuters.
American English
- She made an unfortunate mistake on the application.
- The weather was unfortunate for our outdoor plans.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is unfortunate that the shop is closed.
- He had an unfortunate accident.
- The cancellation of the flight was very unfortunate for everyone.
- It's unfortunate that you couldn't come to the party.
- The report highlighted a series of unfortunate events leading to the crisis.
- She made the unfortunate decision before reviewing all the facts.
- The government's position was undermined by an unfortunate juxtaposition of events.
- His otherwise stellar career was marred by this one unfortunate incident.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
UN-FORTUNE-ATE: Think of 'without fortune' or luck.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUCK/SUCCESS IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (to be unfortunate is to lack this object).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'несчастный', which primarily means 'miserable/unhappy'. 'Unfortunate' focuses more on luck/circumstance than emotional state.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'unfortunate' to mean 'ugly' or 'unhappy' (semantic error). Confusing spelling: 'unfortunat', 'unfortunete'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the CLOSEST in meaning to 'unfortunate'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it typically means 'unlucky' or 'deserving of pity', not 'morally bad' (e.g., 'the unfortunate victims of the flood').
The primary noun form is 'misfortune'. 'Unfortunate' can also be used informally as a noun (e.g., 'The poor unfortunate had lost everything').
It can be, especially in formal contexts. 'Unfortunate' often implies more serious consequences, while 'unlucky' is more casual.
In both British and American English, the 't' is pronounced as a clear /t/ sound. In fast American speech, it might be flapped, sounding like a soft 'd'.