lucky

¹ American  

[luhk-ee] / ˈlʌk i /

adjective

luckier, luckiest

1. having or marked by good luck; fortunate.

   That was my lucky day.

   Synonyms:

   blessed

   Antonyms:

   unfortunate

2. happening fortunately.

   a lucky accident.

3. bringing or foretelling good luck, or supposed to do so.

   a lucky penny.

   Synonyms:

   favorable, propitious, propitious, auspicious

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lucky ² American  

[luhk-ee] / ˈlʌk i /

Or luckie

noun

Scot.

plural

luckies

1. a familiar name applied to an elderly woman, especially a grandmother; granny.

2. a familiar name applied to a woman, as one's wife or a barmaid.

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lucky British  

/ ˈlʌkɪ /

adjective

1. having or bringing good fortune

2. happening by chance, esp as desired

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lucky Idioms  

1. see born under a lucky star; strike it rich (lucky); thank one's lucky stars.

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Usage

What are other ways to say lucky? Someone or something that is lucky has or is marked by good luck. How is lucky different from happy or fortunate? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

• luckily adverb
• luckiness noun

Etymology

Origin of lucky¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; luck + -y ¹

Origin of lucky²

First recorded in 1710–20; luck + -y ²

Explanation

When you're lucky, things work out well for you — you experience good fortune. If you're feeling lucky, it might be a good day to buy a lottery ticket or guess the number of jelly beans in a jar. Lucky people seem to have everything going for them, and your lucky charm (like a rabbit's foot or a four-leaf clover) seems to bring that kind of success in your direction. Some lucky things are happy coincidences: "How lucky that I ran into you this morning!" When you're envious of someone else's big break, you can say, "You lucky devil." Lucky and luck come from the Middle Dutch gheluc, "good fortune."

Example Sentences

Whenever I have been lucky enough to speak with those who have gone to the moon, I have brought up that summer-night question.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Pensioners and families living on fixed incomes are hit the hardest, forced to stretch rations, skip meals or rely on remittances from relatives abroad — if they are lucky enough to have them.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

So maybe you should feel lucky if an adviser makes an exception for you — even if you don’t meet the minimum.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

I wanted to do everything, but I’m in a place where I’m so lucky to have my family, and I just want to be present for them.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

And that’s the only lucky thing about this whole situation: the nurse said either she could call an ambulance or I could call my parents, and instead she let me call Liz.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• fortuitous
• happy
• hot
• successful