Etymology
Origin of lackluster
Explanation
Lackluster is a compound adjective that means what it sounds like: if something is lackluster it lacks luster; in other words, it is without brilliance, shine, or vitality. Think dull. Shakespeare gave us the compound lackluster, first using the term in his play As You Like It. In 2:7, the character Jacques says, "And then he drew a dial from his poke, And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye..." Since Shakespeare first coined this word, it has been used to describe anything "blah"; lackluster sales would worry shop owners and a lackluster prom dress might help you blend in with the wallpaper.
Vocabulary lists containing lackluster
100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Pop Culture: November 3 - 9, 2018
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Even Google Cloud’s beat seemed lackluster, as Shmulik said that institutional investors had been targeting over 115% growth going into earnings.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
The sector is attractively priced after a lackluster year, and offers healthy dividends and robust earnings growth.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Luxury-fashion company Brunello Cucinelli BC 0.63%increase; up pointing triangle again lifted its sales expectations for the full year on the back of continued momentum, contrasting with lackluster performance elsewhere in Europe’s luxury-goods sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
The chain needs the shoppers to come back to juice sales after several years of lackluster results and loss in market share.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
As I walked away, I overheard another coach commenting to someone behind the stage curtain about my lackluster performance.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
