What does jinxed mean?
Jinxed describes a person or thing beset by bad luck, particularly when that misfortune seems unusually persistent or is attributed to a curse. The expression is commonly used in conversation: a team might say it is jinxed after losing several games, or someone might decline to board an aircraft they believe has been jinxed. As a verb, jinxed means to place someone or something under the supposed power of a jinx, though it is more often used passively. The word reflects a superstitious view that a particular object, place, or person can carry an influence causing repeated misfortune. In modern usage, it is usually figurative rather than a literal claim about magic, but it retains the dramatic suggestion that bad luck has become attached to its target.
Affected by persistent bad luck, especially because someone believes that a jinx or curse is responsible.
"The unlucky striker had been jinxed throughout the tournament."
Commonly informal and often used figuratively.
To bring bad luck to someone or something, especially by means of a jinx or supposed supernatural influence.
"The team feared that the old trophy had jinxed the young goalkeeper."
Usually used in a superstitious or figurative sense.
Calling something jinxed turns a run of misfortune into a story about an invisible enemy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jinxed come from?
The word jinxed comes from jinx, a term for a supposed curse or harmful supernatural influence and, later, for the person or thing believed to cause bad luck. The word is attested in English by the 19th century, but its precise origin is uncertain; it may reflect a dialect or regional development that is not securely documented. The form jinxer, meaning a person thought to bring bad luck, derives from the same root.
Related word forms
How jinxed is actually used
Jinxed is often informal or superstitious, but it can also be used figuratively in conversation, sports reporting, and descriptions of repeated misfortune.
Easily confused with jinxed
Cursed can mean doomed to misfortune or merely objectionable, whereas jinxed specifically suggests being subjected to bad luck.