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
Shelton was unlucky to suffer a shoulder injury during his match against Adrian Mannarino, while Tiafoe was unusually lacklustre in losing to 35-year-old qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff.
—
The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Nigerian Imuran Rofiat was unlucky not to level the scores when her left-wing cross hit the inside of the Arsenal goalpost.
—Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Pitted against the unforgettably evil Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a sadist who drugs and abuses the unlucky patients in her care, McMurphy’s stand against the oppressive powers that be is tragic and poignant and spoke to the spirit of a time in which so many felt misunderstood.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Cultural influences can play a role, too, and some numbers are considered lucky or unlucky in different traditions.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlucky
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The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Nigerian Imuran Rofiat was unlucky not to level the scores when her left-wing cross hit the inside of the Arsenal goalpost.
—Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Pitted against the unforgettably evil Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a sadist who drugs and abuses the unlucky patients in her care, McMurphy’s stand against the oppressive powers that be is tragic and poignant and spoke to the spirit of a time in which so many felt misunderstood.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Cultural influences can play a role, too, and some numbers are considered lucky or unlucky in different traditions.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 4 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 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
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