happy-go-lucky

adjective

hap·​py-go-lucky ˌha-pē-gō-ˈlə-kē How to pronounce happy-go-lucky (audio)
Synonyms of happy-go-luckynext
: blithely unconcerned : carefree

Synonyms of happy-go-lucky

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of happy-go-lucky in a Sentence

he is completely happy-go-lucky on fishing trips—if he catches something, fine; if he doesn't, that's fine, too went on her happy-go-lucky way, totally unaware that she was strewing litter behind her
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And new blood, along with talent and a happy-go-lucky personality for a team that probably feels pretty beaten down. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 Friends and relatives of Joey described him as a polite, happy-go-lucky kid who would strike up a conversation with anyone. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2026 Although service is not quite polished, the happy-go-lucky Dutch-Caribbean staff are refreshingly devoid of attitude. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Recently, after a bad defeat, my happy-go-lucky son, Peter, ambled over to another player, who was stone-faced with frustration and shame. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for happy-go-lucky

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of happy-go-lucky was in 1835

Rhymes for happy-go-lucky

See All Rhymes for happy-go-lucky

Browse Nearby Words

happy for
happy-go-lucky
happy hour
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Happy-go-lucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happy-go-lucky. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

happy-go-lucky

adjective
hap·​py-go-lucky
ˌhap-ē-gō-ˈlək-ē
: cheerfully unconcerned : carefree
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All