What's the difference between unfortunate and unlucky?

Unfortunate


Definition:

  • (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.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Unfortunately, due to confidentiality clauses that have been imposed on us by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, we are unable to provide our full names and … titles … However, we believe the evidence that will be submitted will validate the statements that we are making in this submission.” The submission detailed specific allegations – including names and dates – of sexual abuse of child detainees, violence and bullying of children, suicide attempts by children and medical neglect.
  • (2) Unfortunately more than three quantitative data cannot be judged simultaneously without help of mathematical methods.
  • (3) Unfortunately, peanut reaction is not outgrown and remains a life-long threat.
  • (4) Unfortunately for the governor, he could win both states and still face the overwhelming likelihood of failure if he doesn't take Ohio, where the poll found Obama out front 51-43.
  • (5) Unfortunately, under the Faustian pact we have witnessed a double whammy: fiscal policy being used to reduce government spending when the economy is already depressed.
  • (6) But Syrians have borne the brunt of the hatred because of the unfortunate way they became associated with Morsi in the dying days of his presidency.
  • (7) Unfortunately, it does not contain a population of undifferentiated stem cells to supply the necessary healthy neurons.
  • (8) Father Vincent Twomey said that given the damage done by Smyth and the repercussions of his actions, "one way or another the cardinal has unfortunately lost his moral credibility".
  • (9) Unfortunately, both the malleus and the stapes have to be in good position to use this type of reconstruction making it much less common than other forms of ossiculoplasty.
  • (10) And of course, as the articles are shared far and wide across the apparently much-hated web, they become gospel to those who read them and unfortunately become quasi-religious texts to musicians of all stripes who blame the internet for everything that is wrong with their careers.
  • (11) Unfortunately, it probably won’t happen with many countries … But if we can have a great relationship with Russia, and China, and all countries, I’m all for that, that would be a tremendous asset.
  • (12) Unfortunately, transitional cell carcinoma may involve other regions of the prostate that are inaccessible by cystoscopy.
  • (13) Actually, I think these are worthy subjects for discussion but, unfortunately, we don't have the time.
  • (14) Unfortunately it was the Arab spring that failed , and the rise of Islamic State was one of the results.
  • (15) Since doctors are generally accepted as experts on health matters, their apparent undue pessimism about cancer prognosis is unfortunate.
  • (16) Unfortunately, few reflections concern the definition of this criterion, which often is little discussed in the other divisions of the pure and applied chemistry.
  • (17) Unfortunately for New Mexico State, and fortunately for everyone who had work the next day, there would be no double overtime.
  • (18) Unfortunately, despite being a much better tolerated curative procedure involving a very brief hospitalization, the use of high-energy direct current (DC) shocks is associated with a low but significant incidence of serious complications including cardiac perforation, hypotension, coronary artery spasm, and late occurrence of ventricular fibrillation.
  • (19) Unfortunately numerous methodological approaches have not been able to avoid the fact that the real value of such an early diagnosis is not always known.
  • (20) Unfortunately, the risk factors section in the pregnancy surveillance booklet does not receive sufficient medical documentation.

Unlucky


Definition:

  • (a.) Not lucky; not successful; unfortunate; ill-fated; unhappy; as, an unlucky man; an unlucky adventure; an unlucky throw of dice; an unlucky game.
  • (a.) Bringing bad luck; ill-omened; inauspicious.
  • (a.) Mischievous; as, an unlucky wag.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Speaking about the player, who scored crucial goals for England during qualification for the 2014 World Cup, Hodgson said: “Andros was unlucky to lose his place in the squad when he wasn’t getting a regular game and he’s gone to Newcastle, got a regular game, and done very well there.” Expressing his delight in being selected, Townsend tweeted: “Huge honour to be named in provisional England squad for the euros ... Will give my all over next few weeks to try to make final squad!” Hodgson also declared himself pleased to include Jordan Henderson, who returned to action for Liverpool in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion having been out since early April with damaged knee ligaments.
  • (2) Hull were not exactly unlucky, they simply did not create enough from open play to deserve anything from the game, though Brady could hardly have come any closer to scoring.
  • (3) This weekend's games see Palermo engaged in a local derby with Messina, while Lazio host Sampdoria and Milan visit Chievo (whose hometown of Verona is regarded by Mialnisti as particularly unlucky).
  • (4) Although Speed had presided over five victories and five defeats in his 10 matches in charge of the principality, there were plenty of encouraging signs in Speed's stewardship, not least that four of the wins came in the past five games, with an unlucky 1-0 defeat by England at Wembley the only blemish.
  • (5) Yes, Khodorkovsky has been very unlucky in his fate, but we, his compatriots, have been unbelievably lucky: the party of human dignity is today embodied by an individual who conducts himself in a model fashion and does not bend or break under pressure.
  • (6) To cure Alzheimer’s, we first need to figure out why some of us are unlucky enough to get it.
  • (7) I’m nothing special, I’m just a nurse doing her job who got unlucky and caught a virus.
  • (8) There is nothing that anybody can do to pool their risk with the rest of the population, you just have to hope that you are not unlucky.
  • (9) Isaac Rosenberg's insignificant military career and unlucky end were sadly all too common in the first world war and would not be of any special interest had he not emerged as one of the most powerful poets of that war.
  • (10) She had a horrible taste in men, or was incredibly unlucky,” said Swingle.
  • (11) The Tories are likely to to face criticism for making those people unlucky enough to lose out in the lottery of serious illnesses in old age being penalised again by having all their assets above £100,000 being sequestrated by the state.
  • (12) The Argentinian playmaker picked up the loose ball and was unlucky to see his curling shot drift wide.
  • (13) I am one of the unlucky ones as my ancestors emigrated in the 19th century to Australia and eventually returned to Britain.
  • (14) Last season we were unlucky in the semi-finals and this season we would like to carry on the good work,” Cech said.
  • (15) While accepting Italy had been unlucky to be knocked out, Blatter urged restraint on the part of Italy's outraged team, officials and supporters, saying that not only the officials but their players had made decisive mistakes.
  • (16) If the worst part of the task will be whittling his initial 30 choices down to 23 and informing the unlucky seven, ask him what he is most anticipating and Hodgson is unequivocal: "I am looking forward to that first victory and I hope it is the first game so we are off and running."
  • (17) "I can say with my hand on my heart that it was not deliberate ... it was just my Norman Wisdom moment, just one of those unbelievably unlucky things that can sometimes happen.
  • (18) They ignore the poverty that exists for the children who are unlucky enough to live in areas labelled as “affluent” – they’re whitewashed as “having it all” thanks to the average local income.
  • (19) Even before lanes were finished some cyclists squeezed between fences to use them, an unlucky few crashing into barriers marking the end of completed sections while riding at night.
  • (20) Given we'd have to make claims for at least four unrelated repairs a year to end up spending that £186 saving in excess payments (and, surely, we'd have to be really unlucky to need that many again), going for the Flexi option looks very attractive.