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Misfortune vs Unfortunate - What's the difference?

misfortune | unfortunate |

As nouns the difference between misfortune and unfortunate

is that misfortune is bad luck while unfortunate is an unlucky person.

As an adjective unfortunate is

not favored by fortune.

misfortune

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) bad luck
  • * 2012 , July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
    • Cycling's complex etiquette contains an unwritten rule that riders in contention for a race win should not be penalised for sheer misfortune .
    The worst tour I have ever had the misfortune to experience.
    It was my fortune, or misfortune , to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training. - Ulysses S. Grant
  • (countable) an undesirable event such as an accident
  • * 1839 , Charles Robert Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle. , Chapter X
    • 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!
    She had to come to terms with a number of misfortunes .

    Related terms

    * misfortunate

    unfortunate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • not favored by fortune
  • marked or accompanied by or resulting in misfortune

    • Synonyms

    * (not favored by fortune) unsuccessful * (accompanied by or resulting in misfortune) unlucky

    Antonyms

    * (not favored by fortune) fortunate * (accompanied by or resulting in misfortune) fortunate, lucky

    See also

    * deplorable * regrettable * infelicitous * unsuitable

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An unlucky person.