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Definition of unfortunate adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

unfortunate

adjective
 
/ʌnˈfɔːtʃənət/
 
/ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənət/
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  1. having bad luck; caused by bad luck synonym unlucky
    • He was unfortunate to lose in the final round.
    • It was an unfortunate accident.
    • The unfortunate animal was locked inside the house for a week.
    opposite fortunate
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • seem
    • consider somebody/​something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  2. (formal) if you say that a situation is unfortunate, you wish that it had not happened or that it had been different synonym regrettable
    • She described the decision as ‘unfortunate’.
    • It was unfortunate that he couldn't speak English.
    • You're putting me in a most unfortunate position.
    Language Bank impersonalimpersonalGiving opinions using impersonal language
      • It is vital that more is done to prevent the illegal trade in wild animals.
      • (Compare: We have to do more to stop people trading wild animals illegally.)
      • It is clear that more needs to be done to protect biodiversity.
      • (Compare: We clearly need to do more to protect biodiversity.)
      • It is unfortunate that the practice of keeping monkeys as pets still continues.
      • (Compare: It’s absolutely terrible that people still keep monkeys as pets.)
      • It is difficult for many people to understand the reasons why certain individuals choose to hunt animals for sport.
      • (Compare: I can’t understand why anyone would want to kill animals for fun.)
      • Unfortunately, it would seem that not enough is being done to support tiger conservation.
      • (Compare: Governments aren’t doing enough to help tiger conservation.)
      • There is no doubt that the greatest threat to polar bears comes from global warming.
      • (Compare: I believe that the greatest threat…)
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • seem
    • consider somebody/​something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  3. embarrassing and/or offensive
    • It was an unfortunate choice of words.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • seem
    • consider somebody/​something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
See unfortunate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee unfortunate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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