unlucky
gb/ʌnlˈʌki/ us/ʌnlˈʌki/
A2
English
~ 7200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
having bad luck or misfortune
Having bad luck, especially when things often go wrong for you or you do not get what you want.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is unlucky (in/with [something])
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"I am not lucky"* when *"I am unlucky"* is more natural, especially when talking about a general pattern of bad results. They may also confuse *"unlucky"* with *"sad"* or *"poor"*: *"He is an unlucky man"* means he has bad luck, not that he has little money or feels sad.
Synonyms
unfortunate (More formal and slightly softer; focuses on the sad result rather than the idea of ongoing bad luck.)
|
ill-fated (Literary and stronger; suggests someone is destined to meet a bad end, not just everyday bad luck.)
|
jinxed (Informal; suggests someone has a kind of curse so that bad things keep happening.)
Antonyms
lucky (Describes someone who often has good things happen by chance.)
|
fortunate (More formal; stresses good outcomes and positive circumstances rather than chance alone.)
Collocations
unlucky person
|unlucky team
|unlucky in love
|unlucky with money
|feel unlucky
|very unlucky
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He’s always been unlucky in love, even though he’s kind and funny.
- The team was unlucky again and lost in the final minute.
- Some people feel they are unlucky no matter how hard they try.
- We were unlucky with the weather and it rained all weekend.
- She considered herself unlucky compared to her more successful siblings.
Learner examples
- I was unlucky and missed the last bus home.
- Their team is unlucky and often loses by one goal.
- My brother is unlucky in love and is still single.
- We were unlucky with our hotel; it was very noisy.
- She feels unlucky because she cannot find a job.
adjective
B1
property
2
caused by bad luck or mischance
Describes an event or situation that is bad or sad and seems to happen because of chance, not because someone did something wrong.
Usage pattern:
an unlucky [event/situation/moment]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *"unlucky"* where *"bad"* or *"wrong"* is better, for example *"unlucky answer"* instead of *"wrong answer"*. Use *"unlucky"* when the bad result is mainly due to chance, not clearly someone’s fault.
Synonyms
unfortunate (A bit more formal and common in writing; focuses on the regrettable outcome rather than the idea of luck.)
|
ill-timed (Focuses on bad timing rather than luck in general.)
Antonyms
fortunate (Describes an event with a positive or lucky result.)
|
lucky (Stresses that a good outcome happened by chance.)
Collocations
an unlucky accident
|an unlucky moment
|unlucky result
|unlucky timing
|unlucky mistake
|unlucky defeat
Themes
daily life
|accidents
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was an unlucky accident that could have happened to anyone.
- They chose an unlucky time to travel and got stuck in a storm.
- The company had an unlucky start to the year, with several projects failing.
- In an unlucky turn of events, his car broke down on the way to the interview.
- Her comment was unlucky and offended several people in the meeting.
Learner examples
- It was an unlucky day for us because many things went wrong.
- They had an unlucky start and were late for the exam.
- Because of an unlucky mistake, he sent the email to the wrong person.
- We picked an unlucky time to go shopping; the store was closed.
- The team lost after an unlucky goal in the last minute.
adjective
B1
property
3
thought to bring bad luck
Describes a number, day, thing, or action that people believe brings bad luck.
Usage pattern:
an unlucky [number/day/object]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes translate cultural ideas directly and say things like *"It is a bad number"* when they mean *"It is an unlucky number"*. Use *"unlucky"* when talking about beliefs or superstitions, not just something you personally dislike.
Synonyms
inauspicious (Formal and literary; emphasizes a bad sign for the future rather than everyday luck.)
Antonyms
lucky (In this context, describes something believed to bring good luck.)
|
auspicious (Formal; means seen as a good sign or favorable for success.)
Collocations
unlucky number
|unlucky day
|unlucky color
|unlucky sign
|unlucky to [do something]
|considered unlucky
Themes
beliefs
|culture
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In many countries, thirteen is considered an unlucky number.
- Some actors think it is unlucky to say certain words before a performance.
- They refused to move in on Friday the 13th because they felt it was an unlucky day.
- He always avoids wearing that color because his grandmother says it’s unlucky.
- Breaking a mirror is traditionally said to be unlucky.
Learner examples
- My friend thinks 13 is an unlucky number.
- Some people say it is unlucky to open an umbrella inside.
- She will not travel on that date because it is unlucky for her.
- They believe black cats are unlucky in their culture.
- In his family, it is unlucky to walk under a ladder.
Grammar
Expressions
an unlucky number
1/ən ʌnlˈʌki nˈʌmbɚ/
fixed phrase
number believed to bring bad luck
A number that people in some cultures think brings bad luck.
Examples
- Many people think 13 is an unlucky number.
- In some places, 4 is an unlucky number and buildings avoid using it for floors.
be unlucky enough to
1/bˈi ʌnlˈʌki ɪnˈʌf tə/
fixed phrase
have the bad luck to do something
Used to say that something bad happened to someone because of bad luck.
Examples
- I was unlucky enough to catch the flu right before my exams.
- She was unlucky enough to be on the train that broke down.
if you are unlucky
1/ˈɪf jˈu ˈɑɹ ʌnlˈʌki/
fixed phrase
used to introduce a possible bad outcome
Used to talk about a bad thing that might happen to someone by chance.
Examples
- You might have to wait an hour if you are unlucky.
- If you are unlucky, the flight could be delayed again.
unlucky in love
1/ʌnlˈʌki ˈɪn lˈʌv/
fixed phrase
having repeated bad luck in romance
To often have problems or no success in romantic relationships, in a way that seems caused by bad luck.
Examples
- She jokes that she’s always been unlucky in love.
- After so many breakups, he felt truly unlucky in love.