unsuccessful
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unsuccessful
First recorded in 1610–20; un- 1 + successful
Explanation
When something is unsuccessful, it means it didn’t quite work out as planned, like trying to bake a towering, multilayered cake and ending up with a pancake instead. The word unsuccessful comes from the Latin roots un- meaning "not" and successus, meaning "a good outcome." It describes an attempt that doesn’t achieve its intended result. For example, an unsuccessful attempt at gardening will result in wilted plants rather than beautiful blooms. Although being unsuccessful can be frustrating, it’s also a valuable part of learning and growing. Many great inventors and artists faced unsuccessful attempts before finally succeeding.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After years of unsuccessful makeover attempts by previous management teams, the British luxury trench coat brand appears to be turning a corner and increased sales by 4% over the three months through June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
If those efforts are unsuccessful, personnel from the Avalon Fire Department and Los Angeles County’s Baywatch would be able to provide some level of emergency medical treatment while patients await transportation across the Catalina Channel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
The agreement in June marked the Petro's greatest achievement in an otherwise unsuccessful series of talks.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
Until last week’s combined intervention, both Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, had tried to boost the yen merely through verbal encouragement — but that strategy proved unsuccessful.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
A volunteer lawyer had challenged the intent questions in a desperate appeal but was unsuccessful.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
