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

For the remainder of the final season, Penny Marshall was paired with rotating guest stars for a series of comedic misadventures. —Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Their misadventures spiral into odd, escalating situations that would play better with sharper writing or more adventurous direction. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026

Hilarious and heartfelt misadventure is afoot when a dysfunctional family piles into VW bus for a cross-country trip to get their youngest member (Abigail Breslin) into a beauty pageant. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

There is only the slow, uncertain task of granting Iranians leverage over their own future and the moral imperative not to squander their courage in yet another Middle Eastern misadventure. —Ali Vaez, Time, 15 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