un·for·tu·nate
ˌən-ˈfȯrch-nət,
-ˈfȯr-chə-
1
a
: not favored by fortune : unsuccessful, unlucky
an unfortunate young man
b
: marked or accompanied by or resulting in misfortune
an unfortunate decision
an unfortunate experience/result
2
a
: infelicitous, unsuitable
an unfortunate choice of words
b
: deplorable, regrettable
an unfortunate lack of taste
literary
: an unfortunate person
a group of poor unfortunates
Examples of unfortunate in a Sentence
Adjective
She was unfortunate enough to have been chosen as an example.
an unfortunate chain of events
It's unfortunate that he couldn't be here for your birthday.
He has an unfortunate tendency to show up late.
an unfortunate choice of words
Noun
a group of poor unfortunates
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Where Bed Bugs Lurk In Hotel Rooms Bed bugs are an unfortunate risk of staying at a hotel.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Everyone speaks in the highest terms of Dr. Wallace and the other officers of the Asylum, as invariably kind and humane towards these unfortunates.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
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Adjective
Many unfortunate events were blamed on poison—the unexpected death of an enslaver or a slave, a spate of local deaths due to a virus or other disease, or problems on the plantation such as ill livestock or bad harvests.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Where Bed Bugs Lurk In Hotel Rooms Bed bugs are an unfortunate risk of staying at a hotel.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
That’s significant — and ironic — because Bremen were the great unfortunates within the Woltemade situation.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Everyone speaks in the highest terms of Dr. Wallace and the other officers of the Asylum, as invariably kind and humane towards these unfortunates.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfortunate. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unfortunate
1 of 2 adjective
un·for·tu·nate
ˌən-ˈfȯrch-(ə-)nət
1
a
: not fortunate : unlucky
b
: showing, accompanied by, or resulting in misfortune
an unfortunate experience
unfortunate investments
2
a
: unsuitable, infelicitous
an unfortunate choice of words
b
: deplorable sense 1
an unfortunate lack of taste
unfortunately
adverb
unfortunate
2 of 2 noun
: an unfortunate person
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