WordGarden.iounsuccess
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnsəksˈɛs/
US
- /ʌnsəksˈɛs/
Meanings
Noun
lack of success; failure
Beyond the definition
"Unsuccess" means a lack of success or a failure to reach a goal. It is a real word, but it is rare in modern English. Most of the time, people say "failure," "lack of success," or simply "did not succeed" instead.
You may see it in older writing, formal discussion, or careful analysis of results, but it sounds unusual in everyday conversation. For example, instead of saying "the unsuccess of the plan," most speakers would say "the failure of the plan." So the main idea is clear, but the word itself is not common.
"Unsuccess" refers to the state of not succeeding, or to a result that did not go well. In simple terms, it means failure or lack of success. The meaning is understandable because it is built directly from "success," but the word is uncommon and can sound awkward to many modern readers.
That point matters. A learner may understand the word and still not want to use it often. In daily English, people usually choose clearer and more natural phrases such as "failure," "lack of success," "an unsuccessful attempt," or "it did not work." For example, "the unsuccess of the project" is grammatically possible, but "the failure of the project" is much more natural.
You are more likely to meet this word in older texts, formal writing, or writing that wants a slightly unusual tone. It can describe one failed effort, but it can also describe a broader condition in which someone or something does not achieve the hoped-for result. Even so, it does not have a special meaning beyond that basic idea of things not turning out well.
Because the word is rare, it is best understood rather than widely used. If you recognize it, you can usually read it as "failure" or "lack of success" and follow the sentence easily. That makes it a useful vocabulary item for reading, even though it is not a common choice in normal conversation or plain modern writing.
Examples
- 1
Old-fashioned noun
Their first attempt ended in unsuccess, but they tried again the next year.
- Usage
unsuccess is rare and old-fashioned; modern English usually says failure
- 2
Military campaign
After the unsuccess of the earlier campaign, the army changed its strategy.
- 3
Business failure
Several small companies met with unsuccess when they entered the market too quickly.
- Phrasemeet with unsuccess
not succeed
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unsuccess