misfortune
/mɪsˈfɔːrtʃuːn/noun★Intermediate
formalinformal
An instance of bad luck or unfortunate circumstances that cause distress or difficulty.
The sudden storm was a misfortune that delayed our travel plans.
Losing his job was a misfortune that affected his entire family.
💡
Often used to describe unexpected or undeserved hardships.
Collocations
bad misfortunea particularly unfortunate eventfall into misfortuneto experience hardship or poverty
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
fortune favors the boldproverb
Taking risks can lead to success.
💡Pro Tip
Usage in Formal Contexts
In formal writing or speech, 'misfortune' is often preferred over more casual terms like 'bad luck.'
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Using 'misfortune' too frequently can make your language sound overly dramatic or negative.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'mesfortune,' from Old French 'mesfortune,' from 'mes-' (bad) + 'fortune' (luck).
📝Usage Notes
Can be used both literally and metaphorically to describe unfortunate events or conditions.
Word Breakdown
mis-
bad or wrong
prefixfortune
luck or fate
rootEnglish Dictionary