Word
unlucky
Phoneticsun·lucky
US/ənˈɫəki/
UK/ʌnlˈʌki/
Definitions
01having bad luck
A2 · Elementary
adj. having bad luck or experiencing a situation where things go wrong by chance.
adj. experiencing misfortune or being the subject of unfavorable chance events.
“He was very unlucky to lose his keys on the first day of his holiday.”
“The team was incredibly unlucky to concede a goal in the final minute of the match after dominating the entire game.”
Synonyms
02bringing bad luck
B1 · Intermediate
adj. believed to bring bad luck to anyone who has or does it.
adj. considered inauspicious or believed to act as a harbinger of misfortune.
“In some cultures, it is considered unlucky to walk under a ladder.”
“Superstitious sailors often believed that changing the name of a ship was unlucky and would lead to disaster at sea.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From un- + lucky.
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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unlucky