A jinx, in popular superstition and folklore, is:
- A type of curse placed on a person that makes them prey to many minor misfortunes and other forms of bad luck;
- A person afflicted with a similar curse, who, while not directly subject to a series of misfortunes, seems to attract them to anyone in his vicinity.
- An object or person that brings bad luck.
- A penalty that one person can invoke on another when the two of them say the same thing at the same time.
The superstition can also be referenced when talking about a future event with too much confidence. A statement such as "We're sure to win the contest!" can be seen as a jinx because it tempts fate, thereby bringing bad luck. The event itself is referred to as "jinxed". A dramatic historical example of this type of jinxing is the RMS Titanic, which was said to be unsinkable, then sank on its maiden voyage.
In a similar way, calling attention to good fortune – e.g. noting that a certain athlete is having a streak of particularly good fortune – is thought to "jinx" it. If the good fortune ends immediately afterward, the jinx is then blamed for the turn of events, often jokingly.