jinx

American  

[jingks] / dʒɪŋks /

verb (used with object)

1. to bring bad luck to; curse.

   According to tradition, wishing an actor “good luck” before a show will jinx their performance.

   That place on the corner seems jinxed—no business ever stays there for long.

2. to destroy the point of.

   His sudden laugh jinxed the host's joke.

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noun

1. a person, thing, or influence supposed to bring bad luck.

   They said I was a jinx, because every time I came to see them play, they lost.

interjection

1. (used after two people say exactly the same thing at exactly the same time).

   I’ll drive—jinx! Great minds think alike!

jinx British  

/ dʒɪŋks /

noun

1. an unlucky or malevolent force, person, or thing

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verb

1. (tr) to be or put a jinx on

Other Word Forms

• outjinx verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of jinx

An Americanism first recorded in 1910–15; perhaps from Latin jynx “wryneck” (bird used in divination and magic), from Greek íynx, perhaps from or akin to iýzein “to shout, yell”

Example Sentences

Alexander Zverev ploughed into the Australian Open last eight on Sunday but said he "did not want to jinx it" as he bids to make the final for a second year in a row.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

“I don’t want to jinx it,” said Seckeita Lewis, who was flying Friday from San Francisco to Dallas on American Airlines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

Because of that, I don't want to jinx the Black Cats by saying they will win... but it is also hard to make a case for Everton getting anything.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2025

Could this be the season he ends the jinx?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2025

“He wasn’t trying to jinx me, he just wanted to talk about Hermione —” “I’ll be havin’ a few words with her, an’ all,” said Hagrid grimly, stomping up the stairs.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Related Words

• hex