unfortunately

unfortunate +‎ -ly

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈfɔːtjʊnətli/, /ʌnˈfɔːt͡ʃənətli/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈfɔɹt͡ʃənɪtli/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: un‧for‧tu‧nate‧ly

unfortunately (comparative more unfortunately, superlative most unfortunately)

1. Happening through bad luck, or because of some unfortunate event.

   The houses which burned down could have been saved. Unfortunately, the fire truck had broken down on the way.

2. Used (as a parenthetical word) to express disappointment, compassion, sorrow, regret, or grief.
   • 1945 August 17, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 1, in Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, →OCLC:

     Unfortunately, the uproar awoke Mr. Jones, who sprang out of bed, making sure that there was a fox in the yard.

• (through bad luck): unluckily
• (parenthetical word): alas, regrettably, sadly, sad to say

• (through bad luck): fortunately, luckily