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Synonyms

unlucky

American  
[uhn-luhk-ee] / ʌnˈlʌk i /

adjective

unluckier, unluckiest

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

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

unlucky British  
/ ʌnˈlʌkɪ /

adjective

  1. characterized by misfortune or failure

    an unlucky person

    an unlucky chance

  2. ill-omened; inauspicious

    an unlucky date

  3. regrettable; disappointing

  4. dialect causing trouble; mischievous

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unluckily adverb
  • unluckiness noun

Etymology

Origin of unlucky

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

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 meal ended quickly, and the remains of the unlucky rodent were left scattered across the cave floor.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

All the more unlucky: both Asia and Grace are urgently trying to protect their sisters from falling into the cult’s grasp.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Founders and lead executives Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss picked an unlucky time for an initial public offering.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Archer, who began by beating the bat four times in a maiden, was unlucky not to take a wicket early, which allowed Tim Seifert and Finn Allen to build a partnership of 64.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

“The unlucky streak is officially broken,” said Cat.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

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.