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

Another day, another unfortunate misadventure. —Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026

The most notable difference here is Alex's skinny-dipping misadventure, which does not happen in the book. —Ashley Boucher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026

The United States was anxious, divided, and reluctant to be drawn into foreign misadventure. —Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026

When a series of romantic misadventures (in the forms of The Ex and The Host) befall our hero, love takes her miles off course. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026

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