misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmi-səd-ˈven-chər 

: misfortune, mishap

Synonyms of misadventure

• misfortune
• tragedy

Examples of misadventure in a Sentence

His vacation turned into a series of misadventures.

a string of financial misadventures eventually left him broke

Recent Examples on the Web

Our stop at Stanley Park — OK, the Stanley Park Brewpub — for more local libations eased some of the sting from our mountain misadventure, and our walk along the English Bay seawall took us to a perfect spot to capture our best sunset of the trip. —Todd Harmonson, Oc Register, 3 Dec. 2025

That sets off a strange night of coincidences and misadventures as depressed comic and lonely dentist start to form an unlikely and clumsy bond. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

In 2023, Gallaher had mounted a campaign to try and unseat Dave DeGroot as Mount Pleasant village board president, blaming incumbents for the Foxconn misadventure. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025

Lao told Sophia colorful stories about his misadventures as a kid. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mesaventure, from Anglo-French, from mesavenir to turn out badly, from mes- mis- + avenir to happen, from Latin advenire — more at adventure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing misadventure

• death by misadventure

Rhymes for misadventure

• peradventure
• adventure
• debenture
• indenture
• bencher
• denture
• quencher
• trencher
• venture

Kids Definition

misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmis-əd-ˈven-chər 

: misfortune sense 2

Legal Definition

misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmi-səd-ˈven-chər 

: an accident that causes serious injury or death to a person and that does not involve negligence, wrongful purpose, or unlawful conduct