misfortune

mis-for-tune · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Bad luck or an unlucky condition or event.

  2. 2.

    An unfortunate event or circumstance.

Forms

plural: misfortunes

Phrases & expressions

  • have the misfortune to — to be unlucky enough to experience
  • misfortunes never come singly — bad things tend to happen together
  • companion in misfortune — someone who shares one's troubles

Related words

Etymology

From Old French mesfortune, from mes- ("badly, wrongly") + fortune ("fortune, luck"). The prefix mis- indicates something bad or wrong.