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Synonyms

happy-go-lucky

American  
[hap-ee-goh-luhk-ee] / ˈhæp i goʊˈlʌk i /

adjective

  1. trusting cheerfully to luck; happily unworried or unconcerned.

    Synonyms:
    insouciant, lighthearted, blithe, heedless, carefree

happy-go-lucky British  

adjective

  1. carefree or easy-going

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of happy-go-lucky

First recorded in 1665–75

Vocabulary lists containing happy-go-lucky

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.

See Examples For:

When you walk into a room with Los Primos del Este, the happy-go-lucky guys immediately make you feel like part of the family.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 17, 2026

“I look very happy-go-lucky and cheerful, but actually, I am a very dark person because I have a dark history,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 3, 2026

Paying tribute to her sister, Kellie described her as "a happy-go-lucky girl" with a great sense of humour.

From BBC Jun. 14, 2026

Next to the happy-go-lucky Harry, William always came off as the earnest, somewhat colder older brother who seemed to march solemnly toward the inevitable fate of being burdened by the crown.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 11, 2026

He realized that Goober wasn’t the cheerful, happy-go-lucky kid he’d known when school first started.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

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