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unlucky

[ uhn-luhk-ee ]

/ ʌnˈlʌk i /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unlucky ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, un·luck·i·er, un·luck·i·est.

(of a person) not lucky; lacking good fortune; ill-fated.

(of an event or circumstance) inauspicious or characterized by misfortune; ominous.

VIDEO FOR UNLUCKY

WATCH NOW: Four Reasons Why Friday The 13th Is Unlucky

There are many theories as to why Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day. Fortunately, there aren't 13 of them. Aside from that whole horror movie thing, there are some old reasons why this day has inspired so many superstitions.

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orchard

body of land completely surrounded by water

group of cultivated fruit trees

long mournful cry

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Origin of unlucky

First recorded in 1520–30; un-¹ + lucky¹

SYNONYMS FOR unlucky

hapless, unsuccessful, unfortunate, ill-omened.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unlucky ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM unlucky

un·luck·i·ly, adverbun·luck·i·ness, noun

Words nearby unlucky

unloosen, unlovable, unloved, unlovely, unloving, unlucky, unmade, unmake, unman, unmanageable, unmanly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for unlucky

At that unlucky moment, his call was being randomly screened.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And at the same time, I think I am unlucky when I look at how it all ended.
Vilified Bitcoin Tycoon After Losing $500 Million: My Life Is at Risk|Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It was the least fortunate or unlucky place to be born female,” she said.
The Life of Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, the (Most Likely) Real 'Mona Lisa'|Justin Jones|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As unlucky as Gama was to have been hit, he was incredibly lucky that neither bullet had pierced his skull into his brain.
Easter Miracle in Brooklyn for Shooting Victim|Michael Daly|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Unlucky fans and casual observers alike can still enjoy the NCAA tournament.
The March Madness Teams to Cheer If Yours Got Bounced|Ben Teitelbaum|March 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The battalions which they approached scared them away by shouts, until the unlucky beasts knew not which way to turn.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 373, November 1846|Various
New Year's Day was a high day with them, and they had a great many lucky and unlucky days.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant
From this unlucky country that was made when the devil spat.
The Green Helmet and Other Poems|William Butler Yeats
Before dawn the unlucky expedition returned to their quarters at Jacques Cartier.
The Conquest of Canada (Vol. 2 of 2)|George Warburton
Among seamen she was rated an unlucky ship, and Lawrence was confidently expected to break the spell.
The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812|Ralph D. Paine

British Dictionary definitions for unlucky

unlucky

/ (ʌnˈlʌkɪ) /

adjective

characterized by misfortune or failurean unlucky person; an unlucky chance

ill-omened; inauspiciousan unlucky date

regrettable; disappointing

British dialect causing trouble; mischievous

Derived forms of unlucky

unluckily, adverbunluckiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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