English Reference
Noun

jinx

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈdʒɪŋks/ UK /dʒˈɪŋks/ jinx UK spelling jinxed, jinxes, jinxing

n.a person or thing that brings bad luck. You might say this when you think talking about a good thing will make it go wrong.

n.a person, object, or influence believed to bring bad luck. Often used in casual contexts to describe a perceived pattern of misfortune.


SIMPLE

I don't want to talk about the game yet because I might jinx it.

CONTEXTUAL

The team refused to mention the trophy before the final, fearing it would be a jinx.

COMPLEX

Superstitious actors often treat the name of the 'Scottish Play' as a jinx, preferring to refer to it by its euphemism to avoid inviting disaster to the production.

Usage

Commonly used as a singular noun with 'a' or 'the'.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated