misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmi-səd-ˈven-chər 

: misfortune, mishap

Synonyms

• 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

The preschool series follows the adventures (and misadventures) of best friends (and super-geniuses) Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 9 Aug. 2025

Recently, the catchy phrase, read by voiceover artist Zoë Lister, has been used as a soundtrack for people showing off their dream vacations or even making fun of chaotic travel misadventures. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2025

While building the hotel Brando envisions, Judge and the local crew appear to undergo all kinds of misadventures, from skinny dipping to dangerous plane-flying to snorkeling with sharks. —Jack Smart, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025

The novel chronicles the adventures and misadventures of a band of renegade eco-activists thwarting the development of remote landscapes across southern Utah and northern Arizona by any means necessary. —Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 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