unfavorable
Americanadjective
-
not favorable; contrary; adverse.
an unfavorable wind.
-
not propitious.
an unfavorable omen.
-
unfortunate; undesirable; disadvantageous.
an unfavorable development.
Other Word Forms
- unfavorableness noun
- unfavorably adverb
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.
Tehran has financial offramps that allow it to wait, to hedge, and to walk away from a deal it finds unfavorable.
From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026
In one recent high-profile poll, about 56% of respondents said they had an unfavorable view of Bass.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026
“The risks to the labor market and inflation both tilt in unfavorable directions, that is, toward a weaker labor market and a greater persistence of above-target inflation,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026
“Kaposi’s sarcoma occurs with other immunomodulators but in our view additional risk factors can be unfavorable if there are other treatment options that don’t have those risks,” analysts at UBS say in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
Even as Garfield's health worsened, Brown sent out telegrams saying: “Rumors concerning unfavorable change in President's condition largely sensational,” and “Surgeons believe President is prospectively better than at any time since shooting.”
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
