unfortunate B1 Topic:People & Society US /ʌnˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt/ UK /ʌnˈfɔː.t͡ʃə.nɪt/ See IPA manual Freq #4042 Meanings 1 adj Unlucky, or caused by bad luck. It was an unfortunate accident that no one could have prevented. 2 adj Regrettable; not suitable and likely to cause problems. That was an unfortunate choice of words. 3 noun An unlucky person, especially one in difficult circumstances. The charity provides shelter for the unfortunates of the city. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · unlucky, or caused by bad... unlucky 3 noun · an unlucky person,... unfortunate person Word family Forms unfortunates Derived forms unfortunately Related forms deplorableinfelicitousregrettableunsuitable Etymology AI details From un- + fortunate, doublet of infortunate. Topics People & Society External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # unfortunate **Type:** Word **Level:** B1 **Part of speech:** adj, noun **IPA (US):** /ʌnˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt/ **IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈfɔː.t͡ʃə.nɪt/ **Frequency rank:** 4042 ## Meanings 1. Unlucky, or caused by bad luck. 2. Regrettable; not suitable and likely to cause problems. 3. An unlucky person, especially one in difficult circumstances. ## Examples - It was an unfortunate accident that no one could have prevented. - That was an unfortunate choice of words. - The charity provides shelter for the unfortunates of the city. ## Derived Forms - unfortunately ## Related Forms - deplorable - infelicitous - regrettable - unsuitable ## Etymology From un- + fortunate, doublet of infortunate. ## AI Etymology Unfortunate is from un- + fortunate, doublet of infortunate. The surface analysis is un- + fortunate, doublet of infortunate. The prefix un- supplies the negative or reversive element. In present-day use, it can mean unlucky, or caused by bad luck, or regrettable; not suitable and likely to cause problems. Derived formations include unfortunately. ## Topics - People & Society markdown