What does unsuccessful mean?
Unsuccessful means that an attempt, effort, plan, or outcome did not achieve the desired result. It is commonly used in formal and professional contexts, as in “an unsuccessful application,” “an unsuccessful search,” or “an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the dispute.” The word is generally neutral in tone, although it can sound somewhat blunt when describing a repeated failure. It differs from “fruitless” in suggesting that something did not succeed, while “fruitless” emphasizes the absence of useful results; it is also more neutral than “futile,” which often implies that an effort was never likely to work. Although unsuccessful can occasionally describe a person, it is more natural and less pointed when applied to an attempt or undertaking. It is a useful word because it identifies failure clearly without necessarily implying carelessness, incompetence, or permanent defeat.
adjectiveNot achieving the desired result or outcome; failing to succeed.
- Not achieving the desired result or outcome; failing to succeed.
"After several unsuccessful attempts, the team found a more effective way to solve the problem."
"The application was unsuccessful because the supporting documents were incomplete."
"The experiment proved unsuccessful, so the researchers revised their approach."
Unsuccessful is built like a miniature verdict: a “not” placed directly in front of success.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unsuccessful come from?
Unsuccessful is an English compound formed with the prefix un-, meaning “not,” and successful. Successful is derived from success, ultimately from the Latin successus, meaning “advance” or “success,” which is related to succedere, “to follow or go after.” The same Latin root underlies related English words such as succeed, successor, successive, and consecutive.
Related word forms
How unsuccessful is actually used
Neutral to formal in tone and common in British and US English. It is especially appropriate for describing an attempt, effort, application, negotiation, or outcome that did not achieve its intended result. It can sound more impersonal than “failed” and is less commonly used of a person than of an undertaking or endeavor.