unluckyun‧luck‧y /ʌnˈlʌki/ adjective (comparative unluckier, superlative unluckiest) 
Inter Milan were unlucky to lose the match.unlucky with We were unlucky with the weather this weekend. It rained constantly. Thierry Henry was desperately unlucky not to score when his shot hit the post.2causing bad luck: Some people think black cats are unlucky.3happening as a result of bad luck SYN unfortunate: an unlucky accident It was unlucky for Stephen that the boss happened to walk in just at that moment.—unluckily adverbTHESAURUSunlucky having bad luck, or causing bad luck: · Matthews played well and was unlucky not to score.· Thirteen is an unlucky number.· We were unlucky with the weather. It rained almost every day.unfortunate unlucky because something bad happens to you that you do not deserve. Unfortunate sounds rather formal and is used mainly in writing: · He was very unfortunate to lose his job just after his wife had a baby.· the unfortunate victims of crimebe/bring bad luck if something is bad luck or brings bad luck, it is believed to make bad things happen: · It’s supposed to be bad luck to walk under a ladder.· Crows were thought to bring bad luck.jinxed if something is jinxed, it seems to bring bad luck to everyone who is connected with it. If a person is jinxed, a lot of bad things happen to them and they seem very unlucky: · I’m beginning to think this house is jinxed.· Some people believed the family was jinxed.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Were you disappointed with the team's performance?" "No, not really, I think we were just unlucky."
- Chicago was unlucky to lose in the final minute of the game.
- He seems to be very unlucky with cars - every time he buys one it always has something wrong with it.
- I've never had a girlfriend more than a couple of months - I guess I'm just unlucky in love.
- I don't believe anyone is born lucky or unlucky - life is what you make it.
- I never kill spiders - it's unlucky.
- It was unlucky for Steve that the teacher walked in just at that moment.
- Some people think it's unlucky to walk under ladders.
- Some people think that black cats are unlucky.
- The car in front braked suddenly and I went straight into it - it was just unlucky.
- The victims were simply unlucky enough to have been in the restaurant when the gunmen started shooting.
- We were unlucky with the weather. It rained almost every day we were on the island.
- Why do you want to get married on the 13th. Thirteen is such an unlucky number.
- Bruce Edgar adjudged him unlucky, but his record was modest: 17 wickets at 52.11 and 248 runs at 15.50.
- Bury's Derek Ward was the unlucky man.
- People tie it in with the fact that Jack Nicklaus was unlucky not to win.
- Red is lucky to card players and red cars are also lucky, while red flowers and red hair are unlucky.
- That one was dismissed as an unlucky incident, but my troubles continued.
- The unlucky federal judge in whose court the suit is brought is faced with a number of equally unpalatable choices.
- Unless they are unlucky, it will not touch even the fringe of their lives.
THESAURUS
having bad luck, or causing bad luck: · Matthews played well and was unlucky not to score.· Thirteen is an unlucky number.· We were unlucky with the weather. It rained almost every day.
unlucky because something bad happens to you that you do not deserve. Unfortunate sounds rather formal and is used mainly in writing: · He was very unfortunate to lose his job just after his wife had a baby.· the unfortunate victims of crime
if something is bad luck or brings bad luck, it is believed to make bad things happen: · It’s supposed to be bad luck to walk under a ladder.· Crows were thought to bring bad luck.
if something is jinxed, it seems to bring bad luck to everyone who is connected with it. If a person is jinxed, a lot of bad things happen to them and they seem very unlucky: · I’m beginning to think this house is jinxed.· Some people believed the family was jinxed.
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone is unlucky in a particular situation or at a particular time · "Were you disappointed with the team's performance?" "No, not really, I think we were just unlucky."be unlucky (enough) to do something · The victims were simply unlucky enough to have been in the restaurant when the gunmen started shooting.unlucky with · We were unlucky with the weather. It rained almost every day we were on the island.
having bad luck that you do not deserve, especially when this has a serious effect on your life, health etc: · Some of the unfortunate victims were trapped inside the building for over 12 hours.be unfortunate (enough) to do something: · He was unfortunate enough to lose his job just after his wife had a baby.
formal to be unlucky on a particular occasion, especially when this results in something very unpleasant happening to you: · Bowman had the misfortune of being sent to the area where there was heavy fighting.· Women who have the misfortune to be involved with violent men often think it's their own fault.
to be unlucky, especially in a way that affects one particular part of your life: · Why do we always have such bad luck when it comes to hiring suitable workers?have bad luck with: · Our kids have had very bad luck with their teachers recently.have the bad luck to do something: · He had the bad luck to upset the boss's wife at the party.
to be prevented by bad luck from doing something that you want to do, for example going somewhere, buying something, or seeing someone: · I'm afraid you're out of luck. The director has already left for the day.· It looks like we're out of luck - all the hotels are full.
a period of time during which a lot of bad things happen to you one after the other: · Mimi's had a terrible run of bad luck this year, what with the car accident and her boyfriend leaving her.· Despite the Giant's current run of bad luck, fans are still showing up for the games.
spoken say this when a lot of bad things have happened to you that day: · I just want to go home, take a bath, and go to bed - it's been one of those days.· First I missed the bus, then I spilled coffee on myself, and now my computer is frozen - it's just not my day.
to have something bad happen to you by chance: · The driver was drunk and hit her as she was crossing the road. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
when someone is always unlucky an unlucky person often has bad things happen to them or things often go wrong by chance for them, not because of bad planning, stupidity, or carelessness: · I don't believe anyone is born lucky or unlucky - life is what you make it.· Val's one of the unluckiest people I know - on Monday her car was stolen and the day after she fell and broke her arm.unlucky with: · He seems to be very unlucky with cars - every time he buys one it always has something wrong with it.unlucky in love: · I've never had a girlfriend more than a couple of months - I guess I'm just unlucky in love.
spoken say with my luck when you think something bad is going to happen to you, and you are not surprised because you think you are an unlucky person: · With my luck all the tickets will be sold by the time we get there.· I thought about buying a gun, but then I thought, with my luck, I'd probably end up shooting myself by accident.
spoken say just my luck when something bad has happened to you and you are not surprised because you think you are an unlucky person: · Married, is he? Just my luck.· Just my luck! The one vacation I take all year, and I have to get sick.
to be very unlucky, so that everything you do or get involved in seems to go wrong, often in a way that affects other people too: · This is the fifth company she's worked for that's gone bankrupt - she's jinxed.· The way the team kept losing, I was beginning to think I was some kind of a jinx.
an unlucky situation or event an unlucky event happens simply because of bad luck, not because of bad planning, carelessness, stupidity etc: · The car in front braked suddenly and I went straight into it - it was just unlucky.it is unlucky (for somebody) that: · It was unlucky for Steve that the teacher walked in just at that moment.
unlucky - use this especially about something that causes a lot of harm or problems. Unfortunate is more formal than unlucky: · Quarterback Brady Anderson was injured in an unfortunate collision with one of his team-mates.· The mix-up was the result of a set of unfortunate circumstances.it is unfortunate (for somebody) that: · It was very unfortunate that someone ended up getting hurt.
because of bad luck - use this when something annoying, unpleasant, or dangerous happens as a result of bad luck: · I would have been here an hour ago, but unfortunately I missed the train.unfortunately for somebody: · They finally cut down those old trees on our street, but unfortunately for us one of them fell on our car.
use as bad or ill luck would have it when you are describing something unlucky that happened to you as part of a series of events, and that caused you disappointment, inconvenience etc: · We saw some really amazing things, but as ill luck would have it, I'd forgotten my camera.· As bad luck would have it, there was a thick fog the next day and our flight was delayed.
to happen as a result of bad luck, especially when something bad happens to you that is not your fault: · His medical condition isn't his fault - it's just bad luck.it is bad luck (for somebody) that: · It's bad luck for her that they decided to shut down the company right after she started working there.
if you say that there is a jinx on a plan, occasion etc or that it is jinxed , a lot of things go wrong with it without any reason and you think it is because of bad luck: · Three people have quit, we've had computer problems, and now the heating has broken down. There must be a jinx on this office.· It's pouring with rain and the flowers haven't arrived - Lynne's convinced the whole wedding is jinxed.
something that is believed to give you bad luck · I never kill spiders - it's unlucky.· Why do you want to get married on the 13th?Thirteen is such an unlucky number.be unlucky to do something · Some people think it's unlucky to walk under ladders.
something that is bad luck or brings bad luck is believed to make bad things happen: · It's supposed to be bad luck to open an umbrella in the house.· For centuries, crows have been thought to bring bad luck.
bad luck the way that bad things happen to someone by chance, not because of bad planning, carelessness, stupidity etc: · She seems to have nothing but bad luck when it comes to men.· Talk about bad luck! Last night Ray's car was broken into for the second time this month.
formal bad luck, especially when this results in someone having great difficulties in their life, for example being very poor, having a serious accident etc: · It was impossible not to feel sympathy for the family's misfortune.· Her misfortunes worsened this year, when her company eliminated her position and she lost her job.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Thierry Henry was desperately unlucky not to score when his shot hit the post. It was unlucky for Stephen that the boss happened to walk in just at that moment.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Thierry Henry was desperately unlucky not to score when his shot hit the post. It was unlucky for Stephen that the boss happened to walk in just at that moment. (=always be lucky, unlucky etc)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Barnes was desperately unlucky after a magnificent one-two with McManaman to see his volley come back off the foot of the post.
· I am a very unlucky woman who has been thrown to the wolves.· I thought Brian Robinson was very unlucky and the same applies to Denis McBride.· Then, by a very unlucky chance, we were seen and chased by two pirate ships.· On that score, the Melrose forward can count himself very unlucky.
WORD FAMILYadjectivelucky ≠ unluckylucklessnounluckadverbluckily ≠ unluckily
1having bad luckunlucky to do something Inter Milan were unlucky to lose the match.unlucky with We were unlucky with the weather this weekend. It rained constantly. Thierry Henry was desperately unlucky not to score when his shot hit the post.2causing bad luck: Some people think black cats are unlucky.3happening as a result of bad luck SYN unfortunate: an unlucky accident It was unlucky for Stephen that the boss happened to walk in just at that moment.—unluckily adverbTHESAURUSunlucky having bad luck, or causing bad luck: · Matthews played well and was unlucky not to score.· Thirteen is an unlucky number.· We were unlucky with the weather. It rained almost every day.unfortunate unlucky because something bad happens to you that you do not deserve. Unfortunate sounds rather formal and is used mainly in writing: · He was very unfortunate to lose his job just after his wife had a baby.· the unfortunate victims of crimebe/bring bad luck if something is bad luck or brings bad luck, it is believed to make bad things happen: · It’s supposed to be bad luck to walk under a ladder.· Crows were thought to bring bad luck.jinxed if something is jinxed, it seems to bring bad luck to everyone who is connected with it. If a person is jinxed, a lot of bad things happen to them and they seem very unlucky: · I’m beginning to think this house is jinxed.· Some people believed the family was jinxed.