Unfortunately
un-FOR-chun-ut-leeadverb
DiagnosisAutomated, incurable
What it means
The first word of an automated rejection, chosen so that the decision appears to have been reached sadly rather than set by a template.
What it actually means
Nobody read this. A system sent it.
How it is used in a sentence
"Unfortunately, your application was not successful on this occasion."
Why this one is here
It does the same job as "regrettably" and "sadly", and the tell is always the same. A human apologising says sorry and uses your name. A template says "on this occasion", which quietly implies there will be another one.
Filed under
Business Bafflegab — Language engineered so that nothing is ever anyone’s fault and no decision is ever final.
Euphemism — The phrase hides something specific. We decode it.
Related entries
Voluntary Attrition
Work & AmbitionVOL-un-tair-ee uh-TRISH-unnounEuphemism
Resignations, counted as successes by whoever set the target that caused them.
Real meaningThey quit, which we are calling a win.
We Heard You
Business Bafflegabwee hurd yoophraseEuphemism
A response to feedback confirming that the feedback was received, logged, and will be outlived by the problem.
Real meaningNothing is going to change.