adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

lousy

LOW-zee

Lousy (adj) means Very poor in quality; remarkably bad. Example: “The service at that restaurant was lousy.”

adj

Very poor in quality; remarkably bad.

"The service at that restaurant was lousy."

"He gave a lousy excuse for being late."

Informal: feeling unwell or in low spirits.

"I've had a cold all week and feel lousy."

Infested with lice.

"The old blankets were lousy and had to be burned."

How to use lousy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBad, poor-quality, or (informally) feeling ill.

When to use it

Very common in casual speech; avoid in formal writing.

Common pairings

lousy weather feel lousy a lousy job

Word forms

lousier comparative, lousiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “lousy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The service at that restaurant was _____.

Etymology

From Middle English lousy, literally "infested with lice," which broadened over time into a general insult meaning "bad" or "worthless."

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for lousy

busy SUSY mousy jealousy

See all rhymes for lousy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lousy” mean?

The word “lousy” means very poor in quality; remarkably bad. In plain terms, bad, poor-quality, or (informally) feeling ill.

How do you pronounce “lousy”?

“Lousy” is pronounced LOW-zee (/ˈlaʊ.zi/ in IPA).

How do you use “lousy” in a sentence?

Here is “lousy” used in a sentence: “The service at that restaurant was lousy.”

What part of speech is “lousy”?

“Lousy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “lousy” come from?

The word “lousy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English lousy, literally "infested with lice," which broadened over time into a general insult meaning "bad" or "worthless.".

Is “lousy” a common word?

“Lousy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “lousy” have?

“Lousy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very poor in quality; remarkably bad.