Word
hapless
Phoneticshap·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhæpɫəs/
UK/hˈæpləs/
Definition
adj. unlucky or unfortunate. You use this to describe someone who keeps having bad things happen to them.
adj. unlucky or unfortunate; suffering from misfortune. Often used to describe a person or situation that is the victim of circumstances beyond their control.
Examples
“The hapless traveler lost his luggage twice in one day.”
“The hapless student had to retake the exam three times because of a series of technical errors.”
“The hapless protagonist of the novel is constantly at the mercy of his own poor decisions and the cruel whims of fate.”
Examples
simple
“The hapless traveler lost his luggage twice in one day.”
contextual
“The hapless student had to retake the exam three times because of a series of technical errors.”
complex
“The hapless protagonist of the novel is constantly at the mercy of his own poor decisions and the cruel whims of fate.”
Real-World Examples
“Jacques Tati is the hapless holidaymaker who haunts the wings of a seaside town sometimes as a mute witness, sometimes as an agent of gentle chaos.” “Summed up in a sentence After being shelved as a tax write-off, this Looney Tunes reboot returns and redraws hapless hunter Wile E Coyote as the Erin Brockovich of the cartoon world.” Etymology
From about 1400, from hap (“luck”) + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/hapless