unfortunate

USun-FOR-chuh-nit/ʌnˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt/UKun-FAW-chuh-nuht/ʌnˈfɔː.t͡ʃə.nət/

Noun pluralunfortunates

5 meanings of unfortunate

1
adjective
Bringing bad luck, or coming with trouble and harm.
Like a trip that goes wrong from the first step to the last.
The expedition met an unfortunate end when the weather turned against them.
An unfortunate series of mistakes caused the whole system to crash.
Similarunlucky
Oppositelucky, fortunate
Note
2
adjective
Something you wish had not happened, or that does not fit the situation.
Like saying the wrong thing at exactly the wrong moment.
His unfortunate choice of words offended several of the guests.
The timing of the news was unfortunate, arriving right before the holidays.
Similarregrettable, inappropriate, unsuitable, ill-advised
Oppositeappropriate, suitable, apt
3
adjective
Having bad luck or a hard life.
Like someone who keeps getting rained on while everyone else stays dry.
The unfortunate family lost everything they owned in the flood.
She was unfortunate enough to be born into deep poverty.
Similarunsuccessful
Oppositefortunate
Note
4
nouncountable
A person who has very bad luck or has fallen on hard times.
Like the one kid whose ice cream always lands on the ground.
The shelter takes in unfortunates who have nowhere else to sleep.
Volunteers handed a warm meal to every unfortunate they met that night.
Note

Less common meaning

5
nounarchaiceuphemistic
An old, gentle word for a prostitute.
The reformers opened a home for unfortunates rescued from the streets.
She was branded an unfortunate and shunned by the respectable families of the town.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from 'un-' plus 'fortunate'.