English Lexicon

Unhappiness

/ʌnˈhæp.i.nəs/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The state of being unhappy; a feeling of sorrow or dissatisfaction.

    "Her unhappiness was evident in her withdrawn demeanor."
  2. 2

    A condition characterized by feelings of sadness or discontent.

    "The constant stress at work contributed to his unhappiness."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'unhappiness' is formed from the prefix 'un-', meaning 'not', and the root 'happiness', which comes from the Middle English 'hap', meaning 'luck' or 'chance'. The concept of happiness has evolved through Old English and Middle English, reflecting a state of well-being and contentment.

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