unfavorable
Americanadjective
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not favorable; contrary; adverse.
an unfavorable wind.
-
not propitious.
an unfavorable omen.
-
unfortunate; undesirable; disadvantageous.
an unfavorable development.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unfavorable
Middle English word dating back to 1540–50; see origin at un- 1, favorable
Explanation
If a movie receives mostly unfavorable reviews, that means the reviews were not good because most people who saw it didn’t enjoy it at all. The word unfavorable combines the prefix un-, meaning "not," with the word favorable, referring to something "positive or beneficial." When something is described as unfavorable, it suggests that the situation isn’t going your way — like when the weather forecast predicts rain for your outdoor event. An unfavorable outcome can lead to frustration, disappointment, or unmet expectations, signaling that circumstances aren’t aligning in your favor.
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.
The mayor had 63% unfavorable ratings, the poll found, with 28% favorable and 9% having no opinion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
If we had done the same calculation with the two bond indexes’ yields on July 13, the comparison would have been unfavorable for tax-exempt bonds.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
A recent study found that people exposed to more unfavorable neighborhood social conditions when they were young adults had a greater likelihood of developing coronary artery calcification by midlife.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026
His combative predecessor Herbert Diess, a former BMW executive, had unsettled the workforce by drawing unfavorable comparisons of Volkswagen’s technology and manufacturing with those of Tesla, which at the time was expanding rapidly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
“Do you think she’ll make an unfavorable report?”
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
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.
