What does infelicity mean?
Infelicity is a formal noun denoting unhappiness, misfortune, or an unfortunate occurrence. It can also describe a remark or event that is awkward, ill-timed, or inauspicious, especially in discussion of language or behavior. The word sounds literary rather than conversational, so misfortune is usually preferable in ordinary speech, while infelicity is useful when the tone is precise or deliberately elevated. Its best-known contrast is felicity: felicity means happiness or a fortunate circumstance, whereas infelicity means the opposite. The plural infelicities is often used for individual unfortunate incidents, especially verbal or social mishaps. The word comes from Latin infelicitas, a form of infelix, meaning unhappy or unlucky, and belongs to the same classical family as felicity and felicitous. Because it combines emotional bad luck with the possibility of a specific unfortunate event, infelicity can describe both a general condition and a concrete instance with equal ease.
nounThe state of being unhappy or unfortunate; an unfortunate or inauspicious event, circumstance, or expression.
- The state of unhappiness, misfortune, or bad luck.
- An unfortunate, inauspicious, awkward, or ill-timed event, circumstance, or expression.
"A momentary infelicity in the presentation made the otherwise polished report less persuasive."
"A momentary infelicity in the presentation made the otherwise polished report less persuasive."
"The speaker noted the infelicity of making an important announcement by email."
The plural is infelicities, especially when referring to individual unfortunate events, mishaps, or instances of awkward expression.
"The editor corrected several small infelicities in the letter."
From the same Latin root as felicity, infelicity turns happiness into its carefully formal opposite.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of infelicity
Infelicity comes from Latin infelicitas, meaning unhappiness or misfortune, derived from infelix, meaning unhappy or unlucky. The Latin formation combines the negative prefix in- with felix, meaning happy or lucky. English borrowed the word in the early modern period, and its best-known cognate family includes felicity and felicitous, which retain the sense of happiness or good fortune.
Related word forms
How infelicity is actually used
The word is formal and literary, especially when describing an unfortunate event or an awkward verbal choice. In everyday speech, misfortune or an unfortunate occurrence is usually more natural.
Easily confused with infelicity
Felicity means happiness or good fortune, while infelicity means unhappiness, misfortune, or an unfortunate occurrence.