noun
Jonah
JOH-nuh
noun
1
Someone or something believed to bring bad luck, especially aboard a ship.
"The sailors began to think the new crewman was a jonah."
How to Use Jonah
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person or thing blamed for bad luck, similar to a "jinx."
Easily confused with
Word Forms
Jonahs plural
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The sailors began to think the new crewman was a _____.
Etymology
From the biblical prophet Jonah, who according to the story was thrown overboard to end a storm believed to be caused by him — his name became a byword for a bringer of bad luck.