lousy
LOW-zee
Lousy (adj) means Very poor in quality; remarkably bad. Example: “The service at that restaurant was lousy.”
adj
1
Very poor in quality; remarkably bad.
"The service at that restaurant was lousy."
"He gave a lousy excuse for being late."
2
Informal: feeling unwell or in low spirits.
"I've had a cold all week and feel lousy."
3
Infested with lice.
"The old blankets were lousy and had to be burned."
How to use lousy
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- lousier
- Superlative
- lousiest
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."
Related words
Rhymes for lousy
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.
