DictionaryAI

unfortunately

adverb
un-FOR-chuh-nit-lee/ʌnˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt.li/UKun-FAW-tyuu-nuht-lee/ʌnˈfɔː.tjʊ.nət.li/

1 meaning of unfortunately

Practice

  1. 1
    adverb
    Used to say that something is unlucky or regrettable; by bad luck.

    Unfortunately, the funding was withdrawn before the project could begin.

    She had studied hard, but unfortunately she still failed the exam.

    UsageUsually at the start, with a comma (Unfortunately, it rained), or after but: but unfortunately she failed.

    Note

    A comment on the whole statement rather than on any one action in it: the speaker steps outside the sentence to register disappointment or regret. It usually opens the sentence, followed by a comma, as in George Orwell's "Unfortunately, the uproar awoke Mr. Jones."

Use it in a sentence

Write your own sentence with unfortunately, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.

Origin

Formed from "unfortunate" plus the suffix "-ly," or alternatively from "un-" plus "fortunately."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts