un|op|posed /ʌ nəpoʊ zd/ ADJ [usu ADJ after v, oft v-link ADJ , ADJ n] In something such as an election or a war, if someone is unopposed , there are no opponents competing or fighting against them. □ The council re-elected him unopposed as party leader.
un|ortho|dox /ʌ nɔː r θədɒks/
1 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour, beliefs, or customs as unorthodox , you mean that they are different from what is generally accepted. □ She spent an unorthodox girlhood travelling with her father throughout Europe. □ His methods were unorthodox, and his lifestyle eccentric.
2 ADJ If you describe ways of doing things as unorthodox , you are criticizing them because they are unusual or illegal. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Journalists appear to have obtained confidential documents in an unorthodox manner.
un|pack /ʌ npæ k/ (unpacks , unpacking , unpacked )
1 VERB When you unpack a suitcase, box, or similar container, or you unpack the things inside it, you take the things out of the container. □ [V n] He unpacked his bag. [Also V ]
2 VERB If you unpack an idea or problem, you analyse it and consider it in detail. □ [V n] Let's unpack this model a bit more and see just how "illogical" it really is.
un|paid /ʌ npe I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] If you do unpaid work or are an unpaid worker, you do a job without receiving any money for it. □ Even unpaid work for charity is better than nothing. □ The unpaid volunteers do the work because they love it.
2 ADJ Unpaid taxes or bills, for example, are bills or taxes which have not been paid yet. □ The taxman caught up with him and demanded £17,000 in unpaid taxes. □ The bills remained unpaid because of a dispute over the quality of the company's work.
un|pal|at|able /ʌnpæ l I təb ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe an idea as unpalatable , you mean that you find it unpleasant and difficult to accept. □ It is an unpalatable fact that rape makes a good news story. □ It was only then that I began to learn the unpalatable truth about John.
2 ADJ If you describe food as unpalatable , you mean that it is so unpleasant that you can hardly eat it. □ …a lump of dry, unpalatable cheese.
un|par|al|leled /ʌnpæ rəleld/ ADJ If you describe something as unparalleled , you are emphasizing that it is, for example, bigger, better, or worse than anything else of its kind, or anything that has happened before. [EMPHASIS ] □ Germany's unparalleled prosperity is based on wise investments. □ [+ since ] The country is facing a crisis unparalleled since the Second World War. [Also + in ]
un|par|don|able /ʌnpɑː r dənəb ə l/ ADJ If you say that someone's behaviour is unpardonable , you mean that it is very wrong or offensive, and completely unacceptable. □ …an unpardonable lack of discipline. □ I must ask a question you may find unpardonable.
un|pick /ʌ np I k/ (unpicks , unpicking , unpicked )
1 VERB If you unpick a piece of sewing, you remove the stitches from it. □ [V n] You can always unpick the hems on the dungarees if you don't like them.
2 VERB If someone unpicks a plan or policy, they disagree with it and examine it thoroughly in order to find any mistakes that they can use to defeat it. [BRIT ] □ [V n] A statesman wants to unpick last year's reform of Europe's common agricultural policy.
un|play|able /ʌ nple I əb ə l/ ADJ In some sports, if you describe a player as unplayable , you mean that they are playing extremely well and are difficult to beat. If you describe a ball as unplayable , you mean that it is difficult to hit. [BRIT ]
un|pleas|ant /ʌnple z ə nt/
1 ADJ If something is unpleasant , it gives you bad feelings, for example by making you feel upset or uncomfortable. □ The symptoms can be uncomfortable, unpleasant and serious. □ The vacuum has an unpleasant smell. □ It was a very unpleasant and frightening attack. ● un|pleas|ant|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ The water moved darkly around the body, unpleasantly thick and brown. □ The smell was unpleasantly strong. □ My heart was hammering unpleasantly.
2 ADJ An unpleasant person is very unfriendly and rude. □ She thought him an unpleasant man. □ Don't start giving me problems otherwise I'll have to be very unpleasant indeed. □ …a thoroughly unpleasant person. ● un|pleas|ant|ly ADV □ Melissa laughed unpleasantly. □ The Heidlers are an unpleasantly hypocritical pair. ● un|pleas|ant|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ There had to be a reason for the unpleasantness some people habitually displayed.
un|plug /ʌ nplʌ g/ (unplugs , unplugging , unplugged ) VERB If you unplug an electrical device or phone, you pull a wire out of a socket so that it stops working. □ [V n] I had to unplug the phone.
un|plugged /ʌ nplʌ gd/ ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n] If a pop group or musician performs unplugged , they perform without any electric instruments. [JOURNALISM ] □ Do you remember when everyone went unplugged and acoustic?
un|pol|lut|ed /ʌ npəluː t I d/ ADJ Something that is unpolluted is free from pollution.
un|popu|lar /ʌ npɒ pjʊlə r / ADJ If something or someone is unpopular , most people do not like them. □ It was a painful and unpopular decision. □ In high school, I was very unpopular, and I did encounter a little prejudice. □ [+ with ] The Chancellor is deeply unpopular with voters. ● un|popu|lar|ity /ʌ npɒpjʊlæ r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] □ [+ among ] …his unpopularity among his colleagues.