jinx

[ jingks ]

verb (used with object)

1. to bring bad luck to; curse:

   According to tradition, wishing an actor “good luck” before a show will jinx their performance.

   That place on the corner seems jinxed—no business ever stays there for long.

2. to destroy the point of:

   His sudden laugh jinxed the host's joke.

noun

1. a person, thing, or influence supposed to bring bad luck:

   They said I was a jinx, because every time I came to see them play, they lost.

interjection

1. (used after two people say exactly the same thing at exactly the same time):

   I’ll drive—jinx! Great minds think alike!

jinx

/ dʒɪŋks /

noun

1. an unlucky or malevolent force, person, or thing

verb

1. tr to be or put a jinx on

Other Words From

• out·jinx verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of jinx¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1910–15; perhaps from Latin jynx “wryneck” (bird used in divination and magic), from Greek íynx, perhaps from or akin to iýzein “to shout, yell”

Word History and Origins

Origin of jinx¹

C20: perhaps from New Latin Jynx genus name of the wryneck, from Greek iunx wryneck, the name of a bird used in magic

Example Sentences

Caitlyn embodies this point of view both because of her social status and because of her immense personal loss during Jinx’s attack.

From Salon

In her zeal to bring Jinx to justice and end the Zaun uprising, Caitlyn tries to shoot Jinx even though doing so would needlessly endanger a child.

From Salon

Without knowing any details, Caitlyn disregards that a young girl throws herself upon Jinx to protect her when she senses that she is in danger.

From Salon

As such, when Jinx commits her terrorist attack, both the immediate victims and Piltover citizens overall are aggressively dismissive of arguments about Zaunian social justice.

From Salon

And that is before Zaun radicals violently attack a memorial service honoring the survivors of Jinx’s atrocity.

From Salon