misfortune
nounUS /mɪsˈfɔɹt͡ʃən/ · UK /mɪsˈfɔːtʃuːn/
Etymology From mis- + fortune.
1
Synonym of bad luck.
- The worst tour I have ever had the misfortune to experience.
- Cycling's complex etiquette contains an unwritten rule that riders in contention for a race win should not be penalised for sheer misfortune.2012 July 15, Richard Williams, “Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track”, in in Guardian Unlimited:
1 more example
- It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training.1876, Ulysses S. Grant, Annual Message:
2
An instance of bad luck, an undesirable event such as an accident.
- (obsolete)
- She had to come to terms with a number of misfortunes.
1 more example
- The snowstorm, which was the cause of their misfortune, happened in the middle of January, corresponding to our July, and in the latitude of Durham!1839, Charles Robert Darwin, “Chapter X”, in The Voyage of the Beagle:
- Derived terms
- misfortuned, soldier of misfortune
- Related terms
- misfortunate