unfortunate
gb/ʌnfˈɔɹt͡ʃənɪt/ us/ʌnfˈɔɹt͡ʃənɪt/
B1
Anglais
~ 2200
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B1
property
1
Causing or involving bad luck
Having bad luck or causing a bad result.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] is unfortunate
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'unfortunate' with 'sad' when talking about emotions, but 'unfortunate' refers to bad luck or a negative situation, not a feeling.
Synonymes
regrettable (Focuses more on being worthy of regret than on luck.)
|
unlucky (Emphasizes chance or bad fortune rather than undesirability.)
Antonymes
fortunate (Indicates good luck or favorable circumstances.)
|
lucky (Highlights positive chance events.)
Collocations
an unfortunate event
|unfortunate accident
|unfortunate situation
|most unfortunate
|rather unfortunate
Thèmes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- It was an unfortunate mistake that cost the company millions.
- They were caught in an unfortunate situation when the train broke down.
- Her choice of words was unfortunate and offended many people.
- The picnic was ruined by an unfortunate change in the weather.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It was an unfortunate day for us.
- We had an unfortunate problem with the car.
- That was an unfortunate thing to say.
- The rain was very unfortunate for our trip.
adjective
B1
property
2
Deserving sympathy or pity
Making people feel sorry because of bad luck or trouble.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is unfortunate
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners use 'unfortunate' only for events, forgetting it can also describe people in hardship.
Synonymes
pitiful (Focuses on arousing pity rather than on luck.)
|
wretched (Stronger, more emotional tone of misery.)
Antonymes
fortunate (Refers to someone in a good or lucky situation.)
Collocations
poor unfortunate
|help the unfortunate
|unfortunate victim
Thèmes
emotions
|social
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The charity raises money to help unfortunate children.
- He was an unfortunate man who lost everything in the fire.
- We must do more for the unfortunate in our society.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She helps unfortunate people find homes.
- The dog is unfortunate because it has no family.
- The city gives food to the unfortunate.
Nom
B2
entity
3
A person who is unlucky or in trouble
Someone who has bad luck or is in a bad situation.
Schéma d’usage :
an unfortunate [person]
Synonymes
victim (Implies suffering from an event or action, not just bad luck.)
Antonymes
fortunate (A person with good luck or advantage.)
Collocations
the unfortunate
|help the unfortunates
Thèmes
emotions
|social
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The shelter provides food for the unfortunates of the city.
- Several unfortunates were stranded at the airport overnight.
- He always tries to help the less fortunate.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The school gives books to unfortunates.
- Many unfortunates live on the streets.
- We want to help unfortunates have better lives.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
unfortunate
API
GB/ʌnfˈɔɹt͡ʃənɪt/
US/ʌnfˈɔɹt͡ʃənɪt/
Syllabes et accentuation
un - for - tu - nate (4 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (for)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: unfortunate
Noun
- Base: unfortunate
- Plural: unfortunates
Famille de mots
Forms
unfortunates
noun
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
unfortunately
adverb A2
misfortune
noun B1
Expressions
for my sins, I was unfortunate enough to...
1/fɚ mˈaɪ sˈɪnz | ˈaɪ wəz ʌnfˈɔɹt͡ʃənɪt ɪnˈʌf tə |/
fixed phrase
informal
Had to experience something unpleasant by chance/obligation
Used humorously to say you had to do something bad or boring, often by bad luck.
Exemples
- For my sins, I was unfortunate enough to sit through the entire meeting.
- I was unfortunate enough to get stuck next to a loud snorer on the train.
poor unfortunate
1/pˈʊɹ ʌnfˈɔɹt͡ʃənɪt/
fixed phrase
Someone unlucky and pitiful
Used to talk about someone who has had very bad luck and makes you feel sorry for them.
Exemples
- That poor unfortunate lost his job and his home in the same week.
- We must help this poor unfortunate find shelter.
the less fortunate
1/ðə lˈɛs fˈɔɹt͡ʃənɪt/
fixed phrase
People with fewer advantages in life
People who do not have as much money, luck, or good things as others.
Exemples
- The charity works to support the less fortunate in our community.
- We should all try to help the less fortunate whenever we can.