What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
misfortuned
Example
He was misfortuned to lose his job just before the pandemic hit. [misfortuned: adjective]
Example
The company's misfortuned decision to invest in risky stocks led to their downfall. [misfortuned: past participle]
unfortunate
Example
It's unfortunate that we can't attend the concert due to the weather. [unfortunate: adjective]
Example
The unfortunate incident resulted in several injuries. [unfortunate: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unfortunate is more commonly used than misfortuned in everyday language. Unfortunate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while misfortuned is less common and may sound more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between misfortuned and unfortunate?
While unfortunate can be used in both formal and informal contexts, misfortuned is less common and may sound more formal. Therefore, unfortunate is generally considered less formal than misfortuned.