unfortunately

unfortunately — adverb

1. Said before stating a fact that you wish were not true, because it is bad news,

1.adverbA2
Definition

Said before stating a fact that you wish were not true, because it is bad news, causes problems, or is disappointing.

Example

Unfortunately, the last train had already left when Esteban reached the station.

sentence adverb at start + comma

Mira wanted to study medicine, but unfortunately her grades were not high enough.

but unfortunately + clause

Synonyms
  • sadly

    More emotional and personal than 'unfortunately'; often used for genuinely sorrowful events

  • regrettably

    Slightly more formal than 'unfortunately'; common in official announcements and written notices

  • unluckily

    Emphasises bad luck or chance rather than just disappointment; less common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • fortunately

    Direct opposite; introduces good news rather than bad

  • luckily

    Less formal than 'fortunately'; emphasises good chance or fortune

Grammar Patterns

unfortunately, + clause

unfortunately for + noun phrase

but unfortunately + clause

Usage Note

Unlike typical adverbs that modify a single verb, 'unfortunately' is a sentence adverb — it comments on the truth or desirability of the whole statement. It most naturally appears at the beginning of a clause followed by a comma, but it also works mid-sentence after 'but' or 'and'.

Common Mistakes

He unfortunately fell down the stairs.' (if meaning he fell in an unlucky way).
Unfortunately, he fell down the stairs.
'Unfortunately' as a sentence adverb comments on the whole situation, not the manner of the action. For manner, you would use an adverb like 'badly' or 'clumsily'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These four sentence adverbs all introduce bad news, but they differ in tone and the kind of 'bad' they convey. 'Unfortunately' is the most neutral and widely used — it works for everything from minor inconveniences to serious problems. 'Sadly' carries more emotional weight and personal sorrow; you would use it for genuinely upsetting events such as a death or a lost friendship. 'Regrettably' is more formal and distant, common in news reports, official statements, or academic writing ('Regrettably, the event has been cancelled'). 'Unluckily' focuses on chance and bad luck rather than disappointment; it sounds slightly informal and is less frequent in everyday speech. For example: 'Unfortunately, the shop was closed' is a plain statement of fact; 'Sadly, the shop was closed' adds a layer of personal disappointment; 'Regrettably, the shop was closed' sounds like an official notice; 'Unluckily, the shop was closed' suggests simple bad timing.

unfortunately ↗sadly ↗regrettablyunluckily

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • very unfortunately
  • most unfortunately
  • rather unfortunately

Phrases

  • but unfortunately
  • and unfortunately
  • unfortunately enough

Prepositions

  • unfortunately for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English by adding the negative prefix 'un-' and the adverb suffix '-ly' to 'fortunate', which comes from Latin 'fortunatus' meaning 'prospered by fortune or luck'. The word began as a manner adverb meaning 'in an unlucky way' and later developed into a sentence adverb expressing the speaker's regret about a whole situation — the sense used today.