unfortunate

comparative more unfortunate · superlative most unfortunate

1. Not favored by fortune.

   Thus ended the life of one of the most unfortunate of small railway concerns.

   1958 June 28, John Marshall, “The Forest of Dean Central Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 422

   Synonyms: unsuccessful · Antonyms: fortunate

2. Marked or accompanied by or resulting in misfortune.

   But as the tower and towee reached the cross-roads again, another car, negligently driven, came round the corner, hit the Morris, and severed the tow rope, sending the unfortunate car back again into the shop window[…]

   1933, Henry Sturmey, H. Walter Staner, The Autocar

   Synonyms: unlucky · Antonyms: fortunate, lucky

3. Regrettable or unsuitable.

plural unfortunates

1. An unlucky person; one who has fallen into bad circumstances.

   Of those adults who used the trains every day, about half now travel daily by bus, [...] one unfortunate is reported to be walking to and from his employment.

   1960 February 28, “Talking of Trains: Moretonhampstead - a p.s.”, in Trains Illustrated, page 73

   1 more example

   Unlike the unfortunates aboard the Triumph, we viewers are in and out of the situation in under an hour and feel like we have had quite a lot of fun in the process.

   2026 June 24, Lucy Mangan, “Poop Cruise review – a fascinating look at a toilet disaster that still haunts passengers 12 years later”, in The Guardian

2. archaiceuphemisticA prostitute.