ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unlucky

adj.
US //ənˈɫəki// UK //ʌnlˈʌki// un·lucky
  1. 1 having bad luck (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    having bad luck or experiencing a situation where things go wrong by chance.

    experiencing misfortune or being the subject of unfavorable chance events.

    Example

    He was very unlucky to lose his keys on the first day of his holiday.

    Example

    The team was incredibly unlucky to concede a goal in the final minute of the match after dominating the entire game.
  2. 2 bringing bad luck (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    believed to bring bad luck to anyone who has or does it.

    considered inauspicious or believed to act as a harbinger of misfortune.

    Example

    In some cultures, it is considered unlucky to walk under a ladder.

    Example

    Superstitious sailors often believed that changing the name of a ship was unlucky and would lead to disaster at sea.
    • inauspicious
    • ill fated
Origin

From un- + lucky.

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