unlucky
adjective
un·lucky
ˌən-ˈlə-kē 
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
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
While most people may feel unlucky on Friday the 13th, Krispy Kreme is hoping to make its customers feel lucky with a sweet promotion.
—
Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Germany was also unlucky that Deniz Undav’s equalizer was called back—an argument can be made that Füllkrug, who was bleeding out of his mouth, was fouled by Adrien Rabiot and not the other way around.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
An unlucky encounter with a deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) could leave you with Lyme disease.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2025
The worms have a life cycle that involves living inside three hosts: first, the trumpet snail; then, a fish; and finally a warm-blooded vertebrate like birds or humans that are unlucky enough to eat the infected fish.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlucky
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.
Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Germany was also unlucky that Deniz Undav’s equalizer was called back—an argument can be made that Füllkrug, who was bleeding out of his mouth, was fouled by Adrien Rabiot and not the other way around.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
An unlucky encounter with a deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) could leave you with Lyme disease.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2025
The worms have a life cycle that involves living inside three hosts: first, the trumpet snail; then, a fish; and finally a warm-blooded vertebrate like birds or humans that are unlucky enough to eat the infected fish.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlucky
Cite this Entry
“Unlucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlucky. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlucky
adjective
un·lucky
ˌən-ˈlək-ē
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
adverb
-ˈlək-ə-lē
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share