unfortunately

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unfortunately

  • /ʌnˈfɔː.tjʊ.nət.li/ UK
  • /ʌnˈfɔː.t͡ʃə.nət.li/ UK
  • /ʌnˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt.li/ US
  • /ʌnˈfɔɹt͡ʃ.nɪt.li/ US
  • [ʌnˈfɔɹt͡ʃ.nɪʔ.li] US
  • /ʌnˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nət.li/
  • /ʌnˈfɔɹt͡ʃ.nət.li/
  • [ʌnˈfɔɹt͡ʃ.nəʔ.li]

Where it comes from

From unfortunate + -ly or un- + fortunately.

adverb more unfortunately · most unfortunately

  1. Happening through bad luck, or because of some unfortunate event. He unfortunately placed his hand on a loose brick.

    Similar: unluckily

  2. Used (as a parenthetical word, often a sentence adverb) to express disappointment, compassion, sorrow, regret, or grief. The houses which burned down could have been saved. Unfortunately, the fire truck had broken down on the way.

    Similar: alas, regrettably, sadly, sad to say

Opposite: fortunately, luckily

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: unluckily, regrettably, alas, unfortunate, unhappily, disgracefully, disappointingly, hopelessly, deplorably, shamefully, cruelly, regretfully, woefully, regrettable, regretful, pitifully

adverb

Opposite: fortunately, luckily

Translations

Every language

adv happening through bad luck

Españoldesafortunadamente, desgraciadamente, lamentablemente, por desgracia, infortunadamente
한국어불행하게도 bulhaenghagedo, 유감스럽게도 yugamseureopgedo
日本語生憎 ainiku, 残念ながら zannen-nagara
中文不幸的 bùxìng de, 不巧 bùqiǎo, 可惜 kěxí, 遺憾的是 /遗憾的是 yíhàn de shì
हिन्दीदुर्भाग्यवश durbhāgyavaś, दुर्भाग्य से durbhāgya se
Portuguêsinfelizmente
Françaismalheureusement, malencontreusement
Deutschleider, unglücklicherweise, bedauerlicherweise
Italianosfortunatamente, purtroppo, malauguratamente
Ελληνικάδυστυχώς dystychós
Românădin păcate, din nefericire
Русскийк сожале́нию k sožaléniju, к несча́стью k nesčástʹju
Tiếng Việttiếc rằng, tiếc là
العربيةلِلْأَسَف li-l-ʔasaf, لِسُوءِ الْحَظِّ lisūʔi l-ḥaẓẓi
עבריתלְמַרְבֵּה הַצַּעַר לְצַעֲר־ l'marbé hatsá'ar

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MLA

"unfortunately." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/unfortunately. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

unfortunately. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/unfortunately

Chicago

"unfortunately." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/unfortunately.

BibTeX
@misc{unfortunately_2026,
  title = {unfortunately},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/unfortunately},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}