English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
Relating to or done by all people or things in the world; applicable everywhere or in all cases.
"There is a universal need for love and acceptance."
not fair or right; morally wrong
"The punishment was unjust for such a minor offense."
lack of kindness; cruel or inconsiderate behavior
"His unkindness hurt her feelings deeply."
Not conforming to or permitted by law; illegal.
"The police arrested him for unlawful possession of weapons."
without any limits or restrictions
"The internet plan offers unlimited data for the whole month."
contrary to the usual course of nature; artificial or abnormal
"The bright green color of the drink looked unnatural."
to a greater extent than is needed; without necessity
"Don't worry unnecessarily about the exam."
not seen or observed; ignored
"His hard work went unnoticed by his manager."
not officially authorized or confirmed; informal
"The unofficial results showed a close race."
in a way that causes discomfort, annoyance, or displeasure; in an unfriendly or disagreeable manner
"The room was unpleasantly hot during the afternoon."
never done or known before; without previous example
"The company reported unprecedented growth last year."
not able to be predicted; changing suddenly and unexpectedly
"The weather in this region is highly unpredictable."
not ready or able to deal with something
"He was unprepared for the difficult exam."
Not producing or achieving much; not effective or useful.
"The meeting was unproductive and wasted everyone's time."
not conforming to the standards expected in a particular profession
"His unprofessional behavior led to his dismissal from the company."
not yielding profit or gain; not producing financial benefit
"The unprofitable business was forced to close down after three years."
not having the necessary skills or qualifications; complete or absolute
"He was unqualified for the engineering position due to lack of experience."
not able to be read or understood clearly; illegible
"The doctor’s handwriting was completely unreadable."
not guided by reason or fairness; excessive or extreme beyond what is acceptable
"The manager made an unreasonable demand that no one could realistically meet."
having no connection or relationship; not connected by family ties
"The two incidents were completely unrelated to each other."
not dependable; not able to be trusted or relied upon
"The old car is unreliable and breaks down frequently."
not solved or settled; remaining undecided or unclear
"The dispute remains unresolved despite several meetings."
a state of dissatisfaction and disturbance; social or political disorder
"The economic crisis led to widespread social unrest."
not fully developed or matured; not ready to be eaten
"The unripe bananas will turn yellow in a few days."
not previously seen or noticed; invisible; hidden
"The unseen forces of nature can be very powerful."
lacking technical training or ability; not requiring special skills
"Many unskilled workers are looking for training opportunities."
likely to change; not steady or secure; unsteady
"The unstable economy made people worried about their jobs."
not fitting or appropriate for a particular purpose or situation
"This formal dress is unsuitable for a casual beach party."
impossible to conceive or imagine; beyond belief or consideration
"It was unthinkable that such a tragedy could happen in our peaceful town."
to reveal or disclose something, especially in a formal manner
"The company will unveil a new product next week."
not wanted or accepted; not invited or pleasant
"The unwelcome news ruined their vacation plans."
not ready to do something; reluctant; not wanting to do
"He was unwilling to share his secret with anyone."
in a way that shows reluctance or lack of desire; not willingly
"She unwillingly agreed to attend the meeting."
Showing poor judgment; not sensible or prudent.
"It would be unwise to invest all your money in one company."
not deserving respect or attention; lacking worth or merit
"He felt unworthy of such praise and recognition."
The process or cost of maintaining something in good condition.
"The upkeep of the old house is very expensive."
difficult; requiring great effort; sloping upward
"Learning a new language can be an uphill battle."
to maintain or support a principle, law, or decision
"The judge promised to uphold justice at all costs."
positioned vertically; morally good and honest
"He remained upright despite the strong winds."
The process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.
"Rapid urbanization has led to increased infrastructure development."
to strongly encourage or try to persuade someone to do something
"Doctors urge patients to exercise regularly."
The quality of requiring immediate attention or action.
"The doctor emphasized the urgency of starting treatment right away."
The action of using something; the way in which a word or phrase is normally used.
"The book explains the proper usage of technical terms."
The state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.
"The utility of smartphones in daily life is undeniable."
The action of making practical and effective use of something.
"The efficient utilization of resources is key to success."