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; 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.
What if the interest-rate curve looks unfavorable for banks?
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 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 headline index, which represents the percentage of major manufacturing firms that said business conditions were favorable minus those that said conditions were unfavorable, rose to +17 from +16 in the prior quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
The Gates Foundation is headed by Bill Gates, who has been the subject of unfavorable publicity due to his association with Epstein including added details in the latest batch of Epstein files.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
Mal’s eyebrows expressed an unfavorable opinion of this method of naming.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
