Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Unfortunate \Un*for"tu*nate\, a.
Not fortunate; unsuccessful; not prosperous; unlucky;
attended with misfortune; unhappy; as, an unfortunate
adventure; an unfortunate man; an unfortunate commander;
unfortunate business. -- n. An unfortunate person.
--Hood.
[1913 Webster] -- Un*for"tu*nate*ly, adv. --
Un*for"tu*nate*ness, n.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1540s, "in an unfortunate manner, by ill-fortune," from unfortunate + -ly (2). The original meaning is now rare; the main modern sense of "sad to say, unhappily, unluckily," in parenthetical use, is recorded from 1770s.
Wiktionary
adv. Happening through bad luck, or because of some unfortunate event.
WordNet
adv. by bad luck; "unfortunately it rained all day"; "alas, I cannot stay" [syn: unluckily, regrettably, alas] [ant: fortunately, fortunately]
Wikipedia
Unfortunately is the fourth studio album by Shalabi Effect. It was recorded on three consecutive nights at the Montreal Arts Interculturels Institute live.
Usage examples of "unfortunately".
Unfortunately, no VIP accommodation remained available for the captain himself.
These communications, although affording intelligence which was, unfortunately, too true, were in several respects erroneous.
One of the most important problems to be investigated in the history of dogma, and one which unfortunately cannot be completely solved, is to show what necessities led to the setting up of a new canon of Scripture, what circumstances required the appearance of living authorities in the communities, and what relation was established between the apostolic rule of faith, the apostolic canon of Scripture, and the apostolic office.
For years past Miss Gardiner has been famous as a raiser of stock, equine and bovine, but unfortunately she has been most frequently before the public as the strong assertor of territorial rights.
The barographs worked irreproachably the whole time, but one of the thermographs refused absolutely to work in the open air, and unfortunately the spindle pivot of the other broke as early as April 17.
Unfortunately, the figures available for the beryllium nucleus were not quite accurate, and when they were corrected the chance of a nuclear chain reaction involving beryllium disappeared.
Unfortunately, he could not very well express his low opinion of her betrayal of her handmaiden and simultaneously expect to cultivate her confidences.
Unfortunately, that is not the first bizarre thing he has blurted out.
Unfortunately for his braggadocio, he let it leak out in some way that he had been well aware all the time that he would not be executed.
It looked, unfortunately, as if advantage had been taken by both parties, of wealth being exchanged for comeliness, as in some dire Mannerist allegory.
The last thing he wanted to do was waste time traipsing around die metroplex after a group of recalcitrant runners, but unfortunately he had no choice.
Unfortunately, Moria noticed, and affected a little squeal as Turian, his expression worried, rubbed lotion on the long, thin sting welts.
Also unfortunately, Moria proved to be one of the nine out of a thousand who had an allergic reaction to sting toxins and Turian cranked up the engine to get the girl to hospital with all dispatch.
The Rowan accepted - unfortunately almost too casually, for Moria hated to admit she might be in the wrong to a younger person - and appeared far more interested in the dinner menu.
Unfortunately, other newsies had the same idea, so there were four of us at the intersection of State and Pearl, one on each corner, stamping our feet to keep out the cold and bawling out: Extra!