infelicity

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌɪnfəˈlɪsəti/ UK /ˌɪnfɪˈlɪsɪti/ See IPA manual

Freq #944486

Meanings

1

noun
an awkward, inappropriate, or ill-chosen expression, action, or detail

The editor corrected several infelicities in the otherwise elegant translation.
2

noun
an unfortunate, unsuitable, or unsuccessful condition or circumstance

The strategist warned that the infelicity of relying on mercenaries would soon become clear.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an awkward, inappropriate,... awkwardness inappropriateness solecism

2 noun · an unfortunate, unsuitable,... misfortune unhappinessunsuitability

Opposites

felicity aptness appropriateness

Word family

Related forms felicity infelicitous unfortunate

Etymology

From Latin infelicitas ('unhappiness, misfortune'), formed from negative in- + felicitas ('happiness, good fortune'), and later understood in English as in- + felicity. The stylistic sense concerns language that is not happily or aptly chosen.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# infelicity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪnfəˈlɪsəti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪnfɪˈlɪsɪti/
**Frequency rank:** 944486

## Meanings
1. an awkward, inappropriate, or ill-chosen expression, action, or detail
2. an unfortunate, unsuitable, or unsuccessful condition or circumstance

## Examples
- The editor corrected several infelicities in the otherwise elegant translation.
- The strategist warned that the infelicity of relying on mercenaries would soon become clear.

## Synonyms
- awkwardness
- inappropriateness
- misfortune
- unhappiness

## Antonyms
- felicity
- aptness
- appropriateness

## Related Forms
- felicity
- infelicitous
- unfortunate

## Etymology
From Latin infelicitas ('unhappiness, misfortune'), formed from negative in- + felicitas ('happiness, good fortune'), and later understood in English as in- + felicity. The stylistic sense concerns language that is not happily or aptly chosen.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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