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
In the film — which traces the years-long romance between Garfield’s earnest salesman Tobias and Pugh’s witty chef Almut amid illness, career and life milestones — standstill traffic, unlucky timing and a lack of better options forces a labor to take place in a gas station bathroom.
—
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2024
An unlucky cup of pens might be pitched to the floor.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
And one of the unlucky millions who was made to feel bad about it.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
James Fallows: An unlucky president, and a lucky man
This is how Unger thinks.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2024
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.
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2024
An unlucky cup of pens might be pitched to the floor.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
And one of the unlucky millions who was made to feel bad about it.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
James Fallows: An unlucky president, and a lucky man
This is how Unger thinks.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unlucky
Dictionary Entries Near unlucky
Cite this Entry
“Unlucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlucky. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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