# lousy

/ˈɫaʊzi/ (US) · /lˈaʊsi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lousy
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

very bad, poor in quality, or unpleasant. You use this when you are disappointed with something like a movie, the weather, or how you feel.

For teachers: of very poor quality; wretched or contemptible. Often used to describe physical health or the standard of a service.

## Examples

- The weather was lousy during our entire vacation.
- I feel lousy today, so I think I might be coming down with a cold.
- Despite the high ticket prices, the acoustics in the new arena were lousy, leaving the audience frustrated by the muffled sound quality.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'feel', 'look', or 'be'.

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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.