adjective
unfortunate
Unlucky or causing an undesirable result.
An unfortunate delay leaves us with little time to prepare.
Etymology
The negative prefix denies favorable fortune. Unfortunate can describe bad luck or a result that brings unwelcome consequences.
More examples
- The unfortunate hikers lost their map in the rain.
- His unfortunate choice of words upset several guests.
- It was unfortunate that both interviews fell on the same day.
Forms
unfortunate · more unfortunate · most unfortunate
unfortunately adverb — By bad luck or with regrettable results.
Similar words
- unlucky
- Emphasizes bad luck rather than an undesirable consequence.
- regrettable
- Emphasizes a reason for regret rather than bad luck.