Jonah

American  

[joh-nuh] / ˈdʒoʊ nə /

noun

1. a Minor Prophet who, for his impiety, was thrown overboard from his ship and swallowed by a large fish, remaining in its belly for three days before being cast up onto the shore unharmed.

2. a book of the Bible bearing his name.

3. any person or thing regarded as bringing bad luck.

4. Also Jonas a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “dove.”

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Jonah British  

/ ˈdʒəʊnə, ˈdʒəʊnəs /

noun

1. Old Testament

   1. a Hebrew prophet who, having been thrown overboard from a ship in which he was fleeing from God, was swallowed by a great fish and vomited onto dry land

   2. the book in which his adventures are recounted

2. a person believed to bring bad luck to those around him; a jinx

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Other Word Forms

• Jonahesque adjective

Example Sentences

Jonah waited to answer until he’d darted his hand in and stolen the basketball away.

From Literature

This gave Jonah a chance to grab the ball again.

From Literature

If Chip had asked him that question a few years ago, Jonah would have added, “And she’s got cooties!”

From Literature

But Jonah was in seventh grade now, and seventh graders didn’t talk about cooties.

From Literature

Anyhow Jonah hadn’t known Chip a few years ago—Chip had moved into the neighborhood just three months ago, in the summertime.

From Literature

Related Words

• unlucky
• woeful