inopportune

/ɪˌnɑpərˈtun/

Since the meaning of "opportune" is "favorable" or "well-timed," it's easy to guess that the meaning of inopportune means something that is ill-timed or inappropriate. That little prefix in- means "not," and it totally turns the meaning of a word around.

Think of the Latin word opportunus, which means "fitting" or "opportune." When you add in- in front of it, or any word, you give the word the opposite meaning. That's the history of the word inopportune, which has been used since the early 16th century to describe something that is "not fitting." For example, "She opened the door at an inopportune moment and saw him fire the gun." Bad timing? You bet. And very inopportune.

Definitions of inopportune

1. adjective

   not opportune
   “arrived at a most inopportune hour”

   “an inopportune visit”

   synonyms:

   disadvantageous

   constituting a disadvantage

   ill-timed, unseasonable, untimely, wrong

   badly timed

   inconvenient

   not conveniently timed

   antonyms:

   opportune

   suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose

   advantageous

   giving an advantage

   good, right, ripe

   most suitable or right for a particular purpose

   seasonable, timely, well timed, well-timed

   done or happening at the appropriate or proper time