misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmi-səd-ˈven-chər 

: misfortune, mishap

Synonyms

• adversity
• ill
• knock
• mischance
• misfortune
• mishap
• tragedy

Examples of misadventure in a Sentence

His vacation turned into a series of misadventures.

a string of financial misadventures eventually left him broke

Recent Examples on the Web

Hilarious and heartfelt misadventure is afoot when a dysfunctional family piles into VW bus for a cross-country trip to get their youngest member (Abigail Breslin) into a beauty pageant. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025

After some misadventures on Lanupa, the kids hit the big 'do not push' button and revealed the true, much sleeker Onyx Cinder in hiding beneath a rustier chassis. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 21 Jan. 2025

The story revolves around their desperate attempt to pay their overdue rent within a few hours, a mission that propels them into a whirlwind of chaotic and hilarious misadventures. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 21 Jan. 2025

Content reflecting hidden pasts saw the largest growth year-on-year (73%), followed by family secrets (68%), misadventures (68%), and personal growth (67%). —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mesaventure, from Anglo-French, from mesavenir to turn out badly, from mes- mis- + avenir to happen, from Latin advenire — more at adventure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing misadventure

• death by misadventure

Kids Definition

misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmis-əd-ˈven-chər 

: misfortune sense 2

Legal Definition

misadventure

noun

mis·​ad·​ven·​ture ˌmi-səd-ˈven-chər 

: an accident that causes serious injury or death to a person and that does not involve negligence, wrongful purpose, or unlawful conduct