UN

1 of 3

abbreviation

United Nations

un-

2 of 3

prefix (1)

ˌən,

 often  ˈən,

 before  stressed syllable ˈ-

1

: not : in-, non-

—in adjectives formed from adjectives

unambitious

unskilled

or participles

undressed

, in nouns formed from nouns

unavailability

, and rarely in verbs formed from verbs

unbe

—sometimes in words that have a meaning that merely negates that of the base word and are thereby distinguished from words that prefix in- or a variant of it (such as im-) to the same base word and have a meaning positively opposite to that of the base word

unartistic

unmoral

2

: opposite of : contrary to

—in adjectives formed from adjectives

unconstitutional

ungraceful

unmannered

or participles

unbelieving

and in nouns formed from nouns

unrest

un-

3 of 3

prefix (2)

1

: do the opposite of : reverse (a specified action) : de- sense 1a, dis- sense 1a

—in verbs formed from verbs

unbend

undress

unfold

2

a

: deprive of : remove (a specified thing) from : remove

—in verbs formed from nouns

unfrock

unsex

b

: release from : free from

—in verbs formed from nouns

unhand

c

: remove from : extract from : bring out of

—in verbs formed from nouns

unbosom

d

: cause to cease to be

—in verbs formed from nouns

unman

3

: completely

unloose

Word History

Etymology

Prefix (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German un- un-, Latin in-, Greek a-, an-, Old English ne not — more at no

Prefix (2)

Middle English, from Old English un-, on-, alteration of and- against — more at ante-

Kids Definition

un-

1 of 2 prefix

ˌən,

ˈən

1

: not

unskilled

unkindness

2

: opposite of : contrary to

unconstitutional

ungodly

un-

2 of 2 prefix

1

: do the opposite of : reverse

undress

2

: remove a specified thing from

unburden

Words from un-

unabsorbed, unabsorbent, unacademic, unaccented, unaccepted, unacclimated, unaccredited, unachieved, unacquainted, unadaptable, unadapted, unadjusted, unadmirable, unadventurous, unadvertised, unaesthetic, unaffectionate, unaffiliated, unaffordable, unafraid, unaggressive, unaided, unair–conditioned, unalike, unaltered, unambiguous, unambitious, unamusing, unanchored, unannounced, unanswered, unanticipated, unapologetic, unapparent, unappeased, unappetizing, unappreciated, unappreciative, unapproved, unarmored, unarticulated, unartistic, unashamed, unaspiring, unassailed, unassigned, unassisted, unassociated, unathletic, unattainable, unattended, unauthentic, unauthorized, unavailable, unawakened, unbaptized, unbeloved, unbleached, unblemished, unbranded, unbreakable, unbridgeable, unbridged, unbruised, unbrushed, unburied, unburnable, unburned, unburnt, unbusinesslike, unbusy, unbuttered, uncalibrated, uncalled, uncanceled, uncapitalized, uncared–for, uncaring, uncarpeted, uncataloged, uncatchable, uncaught, uncelebrated, uncensored, uncensured, uncertified, unchallenged, unchallenging, unchanged, unchaperoned, unchecked, unchristened, unclaimed, uncleaned, unclear, unclouded, uncluttered, uncoated, uncoiled, uncollected, uncollectible, uncolored, uncombed, uncombined, uncomic, uncommercial, uncompassionate, uncompensated, uncompleted, uncomplicated, unconcealed, unconfined, unconfirmed, unconfuse, uncongenial, unconnected, unconquered, unconsecrated, unconsolidated, uncontaminated, uncontested, uncontradicted, uncontrolled, unconverted, unconvinced, unconvincing, uncooked, uncooperative, uncoordinated, uncorrectable, uncorrected, uncorrupt, uncountable, uncourageous, uncreative, uncredited, uncrippled, uncritical, uncritically, uncrowded, uncultivated, uncultured, uncured, uncurious, uncurtained, uncustomary, undamaged, undamped, undated, undecidable, undecipherable, undeciphered, undeclared, undecorated, undefeated, undefended, undefiled, undefinable, undefined, undemanding, undemocratic, undenominational, undependable, undescribable, undeserved, undeserving, undesired, undetectable, undetected, undetermined, undeterred, undeveloped, undigested, undignified, undiluted, undiminished, undimmed, undiplomatic, undisciplined, undisclosed, undiscovered, undiscriminating, undisguised, undismayed, undisputable, undisputed, undissolved, undistinguished, undisturbed, undivided, undomestic, undomesticated, undoubtable, undramatic, undrinkable, undyed, uneager, uneaten, uneconomic, unedifying, unembarrassed, unemotional, unemphatic, unenclosed, unendurable, unenforceable, unenforced, unenlarged, unenterprising, unenthusiastic, unenthusiastically, unescapable, unessential, unethical, unexamined, unexceptional, unexcited, unexciting, unexcused, unexpended, unexpired, unexplainable, unexplained, unexploded, unexplored, unexposed, unexpressed, unexpurgated, unextraordinary, unfaltering, unfashionable, unfelt, unfeminine, unfenced, unfermented, unfertile, unfertilized, unfilled, unfiltered, unflattering, unfocused, unforced, unforeseeable, unforeseen, unforested, unforgivable, unforgiving, unframed, unfree, unfrozen, unfulfilled, unfunny, unfurnished, unfussy, ungentle, ungentlemanly, unglazed, ungoverned, ungraceful, ungracefully, ungraded, ungrammatical, unguided, unhampered, unharmed, unharvested, unhatched, unhealed, unheated, unheeded, unheeding, unhelpful, unheroic, unhesitating, unhindered, unhomogenized, unhonored, unhopeful, unhoused, unhurt, unidentifiable, unidentified, unidiomatic, unilluminating, unimaginable, unimaginably, unimaginative, unimpaired, unimpeded, unimportant, unimposing, unimpressed, unimpressive, unincorporated, unindexed, unindustrialized, uninfected, uninflected, uninfluenced, uninformative, uninformed, uninhabitable, uninhabited, uninitiated, uninjured, uninoculated, uninspected, uninspired, uninspiring, uninstructed, uninstructive, uninsulated, uninsured, unintegrated, unintelligible, unintelligibly, unintended, unintentional, unintentionally, uninteresting, uninterrupted, uninvited, uninviting, uninvolved, unjoined, unjointed, unjustifiable, unjustified, unkept, unlabeled, unladylike, unlamented, unleavened, unlicensed, unlikable, unlined, unlit, unliterary, unlivable, unlovable, unloved, unloving, unmalicious, unmaliciously, unmanageable, unmapped, unmarked, unmarketable, unmasculine, unmatched, unmeasurable, unmeasured, unmelodious, unmentioned, unmindful, unmixed, unmodified, unmotivated, unmounted, unmovable, unmusical, unnamed, unneeded, unnewsworthy, unnoticeable, unnoticed, unobjectionable, unobservable, unobserved, unobstructed, unobtainable, unofficial, unofficially, unopened, unopposed, unordered, unoriginal, unowned, unpainted, unpalatable, unpardonable, unpasteurized, unpatriotic, unpaved, unpeeled, unperceived, unperceptive, unperformed, unpersuasive, unperturbed, unplanned, unplayable, unpleased, unpleasing, unplowed, unpoetic, unpolarized, unpolished, unpolluted, unposed, unprejudiced, unpremeditated, unprepared, unpreparedness, unprepossessing, unpressed, unprivileged, unprocessed, unproductive, unprogrammed, unprogressive, unprompted, unprovable, unproved, unproven, unprovoked, unpruned, unpunished, unquenchable, unquestioned, unraised, unranked, unrated, unreachable, unready, unrealistic, unrealized, unreasonable, unreasonableness, unrecognizable, unrecognized, unreconcilable, unreconciled, unrecorded, unrecoverable, unrecyclable, unredeemable, unredeemed, unrefined, unreflective, unreformed, unregistered, unregulated, unrehearsed, unrelated, unreliable, unrelieved, unreluctant, unremarkable, unremarkably, unremembered, unremovable, unrepeatable, unrepentant, unrepentantly, unreported, unrepresented, unrequited, unresistant, unresolvable, unresolved, unresponsive, unrestful, unrestricted, unreturnable, unrevealed, unreviewed, unrevised, unrewarded, unrewarding, unrhymed, unrhythmic, unripened, unromantic, unromantically, unruled, unrushed, unsafe, unsaid, unsalable, unsalaried, unsalted, unsanctioned, unsanitary, unsatisfactorily, unsatisfactoriness, unsatisfactory, unsatisfied, unsatisfying, unscarred, unscented, unscreened, unsealed, unseasoned, unseaworthy, unsecured, unseeded, unsegmented, unselected, unsensational, unsent, unsentimental, unseparated, unserved, unsexual, unshaded, unshakable, unshaken, unshapely, unshared, unsharp, unshaven, unshorn, unsigned, unsinkable, unsized, unskillful, unslaked, unsmiling, unsociable, unsoiled, unsold, unsoldierly, unsolicited, unsolicitous, unsolvable, unsolved, unsorted, unsounded, unsown, unspecialized, unspecifiable, unspecific, unspecified, unspectacular, unspent, unspiritual, unsplit, unspoiled, unspoilt, unspoken, unsportsmanlike, unstained, unsterile, unsterilized, unstinted, unstrained, unstratified, unstructured, unstylish, unsubdued, unsubstantiated, unsubtle, unsubtly, unsuitable, unsuited, unsullied, unsupervised, unsupportable, unsupported, unsure, unsurpassable, unsurpassed, unsurprised, unsuspected, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unsustainable, unsweetened, unsympathetic, unsystematic, untainted, untalented, untamable, untamed, untanned, untarnished, untaxed, unteachable, untended, untested, unthreatening, unthrifty, untilled, untiring, untraceable, untraditional, untrained, untranslated, untraveled, untraversed, untreated, untrimmed, untroubled, untrusting, untrustworthy, untwisted, untypical, unusable, unvaccinated, unvaried, unvarying, unventilated, unverifiable, unvulcanized, unwanted, unwarranted, unwashed, unwatchable, unwavering, unweaned, unwearable, unweathered, unwed, unweighted, unwelcome, unwilled, unwomanly, unwon, unworkable, unworked, unworn, unworried, unwounded, unwoven, unwrinkled

Etymology

Prefix

Old English un- "not"

Prefix

Old English un-, on-, an altered form of and- "against"

Legal Definition

un-

prefix

1

: not

uncounseled

2

: contrary to

unconstitutional