noun

misadventure

mis-uhd-VEN-chur/ˌmɪsədˈventʃər/

An unintended accident with an unfortunate outcome.

The torn grocery bag turns the man's trip into a misadventure of broken eggs.

A grocery bag unexpectedly tears open while a man carries it, dropping eggs and tomatoes onto the pavement in a small, clearly unfortunate mishap.

Etymology

misOld Frenchbadly, wrongly

+adLatinto, toward

+ventureLatinto come

The “coming to” image developed into something about to happen, then a chance occurrence or turn of fortune. Adding “badly” makes that occurrence an unlucky accident or mishap.

In context

TED9:39

catastrophe could arise simply from technical misadventure -- error rather than terror

Sir Martin Rees: Earth in its final century?

More examples

Her first cycling misadventure left her with a scraped knee.
We laugh now about the misadventures that ruined our camping trip.
A boating misadventure cost them their fishing gear.

Forms

misadventure · misadventures

Similar words

mishap: Usually suggests a minor accident rather than serious harm.
accident: Emphasizes lack of intention, without necessarily implying bad luck.
misfortune: Includes bad luck and hardship, not just accidental events.