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Meaning & use

unlucky

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ʌnˈlʌki/
US/ʌnˈlʌki/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Having bad luck; experiencing misfortune.

    Grammar: Used to describe a person or their situation; often followed by 'to' + infinitive or 'in' + noun.

    Patterns

    • unlucky to do something
    • unlucky in something
    • be unlucky

    She was unlucky to miss the train by just a few seconds.

    He's been unlucky in love and hasn't found a partner yet.

    The team was unlucky to lose after playing so well.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Believed to bring bad luck; causing misfortune.

    Grammar: Describes objects, numbers, or events that are thought to cause bad luck.

    Patterns

    • an unlucky number
    • an unlucky day
    • an unlucky omen

    In many cultures, the number 13 is considered unlucky.

    Black cats are sometimes thought to be unlucky in some countries.

    It's an unlucky day for me; nothing has gone right.

Word forms

comparativeunluckier
superlativeunluckiest

Common combinations

be unlucky to do something
She was unlucky to be born during a war.
unlucky in love
He's been unlucky in love, but he hasn't given up.
an unlucky number
Some people won't sit at a table with 13 because it's an unlucky number.
an unlucky break
Losing his job was just an unlucky break.
extremely unlucky
The accident was extremely unlucky; it could have happened to anyone.

Synonyms and how they differ

unfortunate
More formal and often used for serious bad luck; 'unlucky' is more everyday and can be used for small things.
ill-fated
Literary and suggests a bad end is certain; 'unlucky' just means bad luck happened.
jinxed
Informal and implies a person or thing is cursed; 'unlucky' is a more neutral description.

Opposites

luckyfortunate

Word family

luck noun
The force that seems to cause good or bad things to happen.
lucky adjective
Having or bringing good luck.
luckily adverb
Used to say that something good happened by chance.
unluckily adverb
Used to say that something bad happened by chance.

Commonly confused: unlucky or unfortunate?

unlucky vs unfortunate

Often used for serious or sad events; 'unlucky' is more about chance and can be lighter.

Practice

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