Lack vs. Luck — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 24, 2023
"Lack" refers to the absence or deficiency of something, while "Luck" denotes the force that brings good or bad events in one's life.
Difference Between Lack and Luck
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Lack" conveys a sense of something being missing or not present to a required degree. It's a term that highlights deficiencies, absences, or shortages. In contrast, "Luck" is a term rooted in the unpredictability of outcomes, often used to explain the favorable or unfavorable events in a person's life. It's associated with chance or fate.
While someone might "Lack" resources, like money or time, they might have the "Luck" of winning a lottery or stumbling upon an opportunity. The first term implies a certain emptiness or unavailability, whereas the second suggests the random nature of events or circumstances.
From a grammatical standpoint, "Lack" can be both a noun and a verb. One can "Lack" confidence (verb) or have a "Lack" of confidence (noun). On the other hand, "Luck" is primarily a noun but can be used as a verb, especially in phrases like "lucking out."
To visualize, consider a situation where a person faces difficulty due to a "Lack" of resources. That person's "Luck" might change, leading to a sudden influx of those missing resources. The juxtaposition between "Lack" and "Luck" serves as a reminder of life's unpredictable nature.
Comparison Chart
Meaning
Absence or deficiency of something.
Force resulting in good or bad events.
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Usage in Grammar
Can be a noun and a verb.
Primarily a noun, occasionally a verb.
Tone
Conveys a sense of missing or insufficiency.
Implies chance or unpredictability.
Common Contexts
Resources, qualities, items.
Events, outcomes, chances.
Relation to Control
Often relates to controllable elements.
More associated with uncontrollable factors.
Compare with Definitions
Lack
Absence of something needed or expected.
There's a lack of evidence in the case.
Luck
The force that causes good or bad things to happen.
With a bit of luck, we'll finish on time.
Lack
To be without.
The cake lacks flavor.
Luck
Fate or chance events.
It's just my luck to miss the bus.
Lack
The state of not having or not having enough.
They closed the facility due to a lack of funds.
Luck
An unpredictable outcome or occurrence.
The weather turned in our favor by sheer luck.
Lack
The condition of needing something that is absent.
His only problem is a lack of experience.
Luck
A fortunate or prosperous situation.
You're in luck; we have one ticket left.
Lack
Deficiency or absence
Lack of funding brought the project to a halt.
Luck
Luck is the phenomenon and belief that defines the experience of notably positive, negative, or improbable events. The naturalistic interpretation is that positive and negative events may happen all the time, both due to random and non-random natural and artificial processes, and that even improbable events can happen by random chance.
Lack
A particular deficiency or absence
Owing to a lack of supporters, the reforms did not succeed.
Luck
Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions
They're supposed to bring good luck
It was just luck that the first kick went in
Lack
To be without or in need of
Lacked the strength to lift the box.
Luck
Chance to find or acquire
He lucked into a disc-jockey job
Lack
To be missing or deficient
We suspected that he was lying, but proof was lacking.
Luck
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune
They met one day out of pure luck.
Lack
To be in need of something
She does not lack for friends.
Luck
Good fortune or prosperity; success
We wish you luck.
Lack
A deficiency or need (of something desirable or necessary); an absence, want.
Luck
One's personal fate or lot
It was just my luck to win a trip I couldn't take.
Lack
(obsolete) A defect or failing; moral or spiritual degeneracy.
Luck
To gain success or something desirable by chance
Lucked into a good apartment.
Lucked out in finding that rare book.
Lack
(transitive) To be without, to need, to require.
My life lacks excitement.
Luck
Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence, especially a favourable one.
The raffle is just a matter of luck.
Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success.
I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fifty dollar bill on the street.
Gilbert had some bad luck yesterday — he got pick-pocketed and lost fifty dollars.
Lack
(intransitive) To be short (of or for something).
He'll never lack for company while he's got all that money.
Luck
A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success.
He blew on the dice for luck.
I wish you lots of luck for the exam tomorrow.
Lack
To be in want.
Luck
Success.
I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck.
He has a lot of luck with the ladies, perhaps it is because of his new motorbike.
Lack
(obsolete) To see the deficiency in (someone or something); to find fault with, to malign, reproach.
Luck
The results of a random number generator.
Lack
Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense.
Luck
To find something through good fortune; used with into, on, onto or upon.
Lack
Deficiency; want; need; destitution; failure; as, a lack of sufficient food.
She swooneth now and now for lakke of blood.
Let his lack of years be no impediment.
Luck
That which happens to a person; an event, good or ill, affecting one's interests or happiness, and which is deemed casual; a course or series of such events regarded as occurring by chance; chance; hap; fate; fortune; often, one's habitual or characteristic fortune; as, good, bad, ill, or hard luck. Luck is often used by itself to mean good luck; as, luck is better than skill; a stroke of luck.
If thou dost play with him at any game,Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck,He beats thee 'gainst the odds.
Lack
To blame; to find fault with.
Love them and lakke them not.
Luck
Your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you);
Whatever my fortune may be
Deserved a better fate
Has a happy lot
The luck of the Irish
A victim of circumstances
Success that was her portion
Lack
To be without or destitute of; to want; to need.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.
Luck
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another;
Bad luck caused his downfall
We ran into each other by pure chance
Lack
To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of, meaning, to be less than, short, not quite, etc.
What hour now?I think it lacks of twelve.
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty.
Luck
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome;
It was my good luck to be there
They say luck is a lady
It was as if fortune guided his hand
Lack
To be in want.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger.
Luck
Success or good fortune.
Winning the lottery was pure luck.
Lack
Exclamation of regret or surprise.
Lack
The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable;
There is a serious lack of insight into the problem
Water is the critical deficiency in desert regions
For want of a nail the shoe was lost
Lack
Be without;
This soup lacks salt
There is something missing in my jewellery box!
Lack
To be missing something.
I lack the tools to complete the job.
Common Curiosities
Can "Lack" be used as both a noun and verb?
Yes, you can have a "Lack" of something or "Lack" something.
Is "Luck" a synonym for fate?
While both deal with the course of events, "Luck" emphasizes chance while fate might imply destiny.
Is "Lack" always negative?
Typically, "Lack" has a negative connotation, indicating something is missing.
Is "Luck" always positive?
No, "Luck" can be good or bad.
Can you improve your "Luck"?
While "Luck" is random, people believe certain actions or charms can influence it.
Can you "Lack" luck?
Yes, you can say someone lacks luck, meaning they are often unlucky.
How can "Luck" be used as a verb?
In phrases like "lucking out", it means encountering good luck.
Can you control your "Lack" of something?
Often yes, but sometimes factors are out of one's control.
Is "bad luck" an oxymoron?
No, "Luck" can refer to both favorable and unfavorable outcomes.
Are "Lack" and "Loss" the same?
No, "Lack" means absence, while "Loss" means the act of losing something once possessed.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
