# hapless

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈhæplɪs/ · frequency rank #33,671

## Definitions
1. unfortunate.
2. Very unlucky; ill-fated.
3. miserable, wretched, unhappy, measly, forlorn.
4. Devoid of talent or skill.

## Etymology
From about 1400, from hap (“luck”) + -less.

## Easily confused with
- **happens** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hapless-vs-happens)
- **harness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hapless-vs-harness)
- **harmless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hapless-vs-harmless)
- **hopeless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hapless-vs-hopeless)
- **helpless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hapless-vs-helpless)
- **headless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hapless-vs-headless)
- **Hales** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hales-vs-hapless)
- **hairless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hairless-vs-hapless)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ahpless`, `halpess`, `hapelss`, `haples`, `haplless`, `haplses`, `happless`, `hhapless`, `hpaless`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hapless