unfavorable
Americanadjective
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not favorable; contrary; adverse.
an unfavorable wind.
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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.
It estimated that this payer mix shift had an unfavorable impact on income before income taxes of about $400 million during the second quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Those films all found an audience despite their unfavorable reception.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
A May poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, which was co-sponsored by The Times, found that 57% of likely Los Angeles voters had unfavorable views of Bass, while 35% had favorable views.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Cynics argue this is deliberate obfuscation; impenetrable language keeps average investors from seeing the simplicity of the underlying concepts or grasping unfavorable conditions.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
During her first term in Congress, the Montana legislature changed the boundaries of its voting districts, and Rankin found herself in a politically unfavorable area.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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.
