disappointment

Noun

disappointment (countable and uncountable, plural disappointments)

1. (uncountable) The feeling or state of being disappointed: a feeling of sadness or frustration when something is not as good as one hoped or expected, or when something bad unexpectedly happens.
   • Even a trip to beautiful California can cause disappointment.
   • They remembered too keenly their pleasant credulity as to what to-morrow would bring forth, to dare indulge expectation of its pleasure; they had been disappointed once—so might they be again—for disappointment ever leaves fear behind.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 184
2. (countable) An example or the act of disappointing: a circumstance in which a positive expectation is not achieved.
   • The disappointment with our trip to California caused bickering.
   • For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places.2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport
3. (countable) Something or someone that disappoints: that which causes disappointment.
   • Even a trip to beautiful California can be a disappointment.
   • What a disappointment!