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Definition of alackaday

alackaday

/əˈlæk.ə.deɪ/
a · lack · a · day
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alackaday Lexical Profile

alackaday Game Scores & Validity

• interjection

1

An exclamation expressing sorrow, regret, dismay, or grief.

Example

"Alackaday, the letter arrived too late, and the ship had already sailed without him."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for alackaday
Antonyms
View all antonyms for alackaday

Word Nuance & Usage

This word is highly archaic and is typically used in modern contexts only to achieve a deliberately melodramatic, theatrical, or humorous effect.

• Rhymes for alackaday

• Nearby Words

alabandite
alabaster
alachlor
alackaday
alalagmos
alalia
alamo

Word Origin & Etymology

Early 17th century: an alteration of the phrase 'alack the day' or 'alack for the day', expressing sorrow or woe upon a specific time.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alackaday. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alackaday
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