unlucky

adjective

un·​lucky ˌən-ˈlə-kē How to pronounce unlucky (audio)
1
: marked by adversity or failure
an unlucky year
2
: likely to bring misfortune : inauspicious
an unlucky number
3
: having or meeting with misfortune
unlucky people
4
: producing dissatisfaction : regrettable
unluckiness noun

Examples of unlucky in a Sentence

She was unlucky enough to get a flat tire on the way to her job interview. Some people think that 13 is an unlucky number. He thinks it's unlucky to have a black cat cross your path.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On day four, one part of the men’s draw suffered a blood bath, Danielle Collins asked for the supervisor and a former finalist got unlucky for the second year in a row. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 May 2025 Over half of them may still lurk in the ground, waiting for unlucky people or vehicles to set them off. Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 29 Apr. 2025 While Sainz was initially unlucky with the timing of the VSC, a P8 finish from the Spaniard and a P5 finish from Albon is still a mega points haul for Williams to start off the European stint of the 2025 calendar. Luke Smith, New York Times, 18 May 2025 The Harris 2024 campaign wasn’t just unlucky or hamstrung by the timing of events. Becket Adams, National Review, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for unlucky

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unlucky was circa 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Unlucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlucky. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

unlucky

adjective
un·​lucky ˌən-ˈlək-ē How to pronounce unlucky (audio)
ˈən-
1
: marked by bad luck or failure
an unlucky day
2
: likely to bring misfortune
an unlucky number
3
: having or meeting with misfortune
unlucky people
4
: causing distress or regret
unluckily
-ˈlək-ə-lē
adverb
unluckiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unlucky

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