# hapless

/ˈhæpɫəs/ (US) · /hˈæpləs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hapless
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

unlucky or unfortunate. You use this to describe someone who keeps having bad things happen to them.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.