jinx

[ jingks ]
/ dʒɪŋks /

noun

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

verb (used with object)

to bring bad luck to; place a jinx on: The strike has jinxed my plans to go to Milwaukee for the weekend.
to destroy the point of: His sudden laugh jinxed the host's joke.

Origin of jinx

1910–15, Americanism; perhaps < Latin jynx wryneck (bird used in divination and magic) < Greek íynx

OTHER WORDS FROM jinx

out·jinx, verb (used with object)

Words nearby jinx

Example sentences from the Web for jinx

British Dictionary definitions for jinx

jinx
/ (dʒɪŋks) /

noun

an unlucky or malevolent force, person, or thing

verb

(tr) to be or put a jinx on

Word Origin for jinx

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