jonah
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A person who brings a ship bad luck.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Superstitious sailors regarded a clergyman as an unlucky shipmate, a Jonah whose presence would never be welcome.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Any person or object which is deemed to cause bad luck; a jinx.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “jonah” mean?
A person who brings a ship bad luck.
Is “jonah” formal or informal?
jonah is generally slang.