Definition

An event that goes wrong or causes trouble, often unexpectedly.

Example

The hikers faced a misadventure when they got lost in the woods.

Conversation

Did I ever tell you about my last trip?

No, what happened?

It turned into quite the misadventure when we got lost in the mountains.

Oh no! That sounds like a story worth telling.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Misadventure is formed from "mis-" (meaning wrongly or badly) and "adventure" (from Old French *aventure*, meaning chance or fortune). The word describes an unfortunate or bad experience that occurs by chance.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mis-' meaning wrongly and 'adventure' as a chance experience — so a misadventure is a bad experience that happens by chance.

Visually Confused Words