misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmi-səd-ˈven-chər How to pronounce misadventure (audio)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the operation was not without misadventure against the Ravens, with kicker Joshua Karty missing a field goal off the right upright and long snapper Alex Ward delivering a high snap on the team’s second attempt. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025 Will MacKenzie, Simon Cooper, Neil Sutherland, and Jay Cartwright are set for another round of misadventures. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025 His misadventure begins, as so many of Robinson’s sketches do, with a humiliation. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025 In this case, the golden retriever's misadventure highlighted the gap between enthusiasm and execution, especially in the demanding work of herding livestock. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for misadventure

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of misadventure was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Misadventure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misadventure. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

misadventure

noun
mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmis-əd-ˈven-chər How to pronounce misadventure (audio)

Legal Definition

misadventure

noun
mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmi-səd-ˈven-chər How to pronounce misadventure (audio)
: an accident that causes serious injury or death to a person and that does not involve negligence, wrongful purpose, or unlawful conduct

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