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
Synonyms
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
But if a new holiday collection from Chan seems inevitable every fall, there was nothing clockwork-like about this one’s making — since for Chan, unlike Taylor Swift, the number 13 actually seemed unlucky in 2023.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023
The unlucky group included four teaching faculty and two tenure-track faculty.
—Oliver Whang, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023
This is not some random phenomena that is happening uniquely to a single unlucky community far from the eyes of the state.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023
Who knows, perhaps the spider, if unlucky, is a host for wasp larvae.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023
In principle, the collision-causing culprit could have even been a rogue planet from interstellar space that plowed into an unlucky world that orbited ASASSN-21qj.
—Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023
This past summer, everyone in the Hamptons was reading the Emma Cline novel The Guest, but apparently at least one unlucky man in the Hamptons was living The Guest.
—Gabrielle Bluestone, Curbed, 10 Oct. 2023
Friday the 13th certainly wasn't unlucky for Noella Bergener!
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 14 Oct. 2023
The actor, singer, and very big fan of goth vibes posted a black-and-white photo (all of her grid pictures have been sans color since mid-September) to Instagram on Friday, October 13 to celebrate the allegedly unlucky day.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 13 Oct. 2023
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Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023
The unlucky group included four teaching faculty and two tenure-track faculty.
—Oliver Whang, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023
This is not some random phenomena that is happening uniquely to a single unlucky community far from the eyes of the state.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023
Who knows, perhaps the spider, if unlucky, is a host for wasp larvae.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023
In principle, the collision-causing culprit could have even been a rogue planet from interstellar space that plowed into an unlucky world that orbited ASASSN-21qj.
—Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023
This past summer, everyone in the Hamptons was reading the Emma Cline novel The Guest, but apparently at least one unlucky man in the Hamptons was living The Guest.
—Gabrielle Bluestone, Curbed, 10 Oct. 2023
Friday the 13th certainly wasn't unlucky for Noella Bergener!
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 14 Oct. 2023
The actor, singer, and very big fan of goth vibes posted a black-and-white photo (all of her grid pictures have been sans color since mid-September) to Instagram on Friday, October 13 to celebrate the allegedly unlucky day.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 13 Oct. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unlucky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing unlucky
Dictionary Entries Near unlucky
Cite this Entry
“Unlucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlucky. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on unlucky
Nglish: Translation of unlucky for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unlucky for Arabic Speakers
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