unprotected

adjective

un·​pro·​tect·​ed ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd How to pronounce unprotected (audio)
1
: lacking protection or defense
unprotected troops
skin unprotected from the sun's rays
2
: performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
also : performed without the use of a condom to prevent spread of sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sex

Examples of unprotected in a Sentence

They're planning to build roads over thousands of acres of unprotected land. If your computer is unprotected, you're likely to get a virus.
Recent Examples on the Web Freezing conditions can kill plants that are left unprotected from the cold or end the growing season for some regional staples. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 14 Oct. 2024 Nevertheless, many states have laws to protect consumers from outrageous ambulance bills — but only if their plan is state-regulated, which means about 60 percent of insured people are still unprotected. Keren Landman, Vox, 3 Oct. 2024 High-profile breaches, such as the Trello incident that exposed the data of 15 million customers due to an unprotected API endpoint, highlight the pressing need for organizations to prioritize API security. Shreyans Mehta, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 Dirt and grit contribute to premature wear of the sealant, causing the accelerated fading of the wood, and may also stain the unprotected wood. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unprotected 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unprotected.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unprotected was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near unprotected

Cite this Entry

“Unprotected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unprotected. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

unprotected

adjective
un·​pro·​tect·​ed ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd How to pronounce unprotected (audio)
1
: lacking protection or defense
unprotected troops
skin unprotected from the sun's rays
2
: performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
also : performed without the use of a condom to prevent the spread of a sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sex

Medical Definition

unprotected

adjective
un·​pro·​tect·​ed -prə-ˈtek-təd How to pronounce unprotected (audio)
: not protected
especially : performed without measures to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sexual intercourse

More from Merriam-Webster on unprotected

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