un|prec|edent|ed /ʌnpre s I dent I d/
1 ADJ If something is unprecedented , it has never happened before. □ Such a move is rare, but not unprecedented. □ In 1987 the Socialists took the unprecedented step of appointing a civilian to command the force.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as unprecedented , you are emphasizing that it is very great in quality, amount, or scale. [EMPHASIS ] □ Each home boasts an unprecedented level of quality throughout. □ The scheme has been hailed as an unprecedented success.
un|pre|dict|able /ʌ npr I d I ktəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as unpredictable , you mean that you cannot tell what they are going to do or how they are going to behave. □ He is utterly unpredictable. □ …Britain's notoriously unpredictable weather. ● un|pre|dict|ably ADV [usu ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Monthly costs can rise or fall unpredictably. □ …her son's unpredictably violent behavior to others. ● un|pre|dict|abil|ity /ʌ npr I d I ktəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □ [+ of ] …the unpredictability of the weather.
un|pre|pared /ʌ npr I peə r d/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are unprepared for something, you are not ready for it, and you are therefore surprised or at a disadvantage when it happens. □ [+ for ] I was totally unprepared for the announcement on the next day. □ Faculty members complain that their students are unprepared to do college-level work. □ We were caught completely unprepared.
2 ADJ If you are unprepared to do something, you are not willing to do it. □ He was unprepared to co-operate, or indeed to communicate.
un|pre|pos|sess|ing /ʌ npriːpəze s I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as unprepossessing , you mean that they look rather plain or ordinary, although they may have good or special qualities that are hidden. [FORMAL ] □ We found the tastiest food in the most unprepossessing bars and cafés.
un|pre|ten|tious /ʌ npr I te nʃəs/ ADJ If you describe a place, person, or thing as unpretentious , you approve of them because they are simple in appearance or character, rather than sophisticated or luxurious. [APPROVAL ] □ The Tides Inn is both comfortable and unpretentious. □ …good, unpretentious pop music.
un|prin|ci|pled /ʌnpr I ns I p ə ld/ ADJ If you describe a person or their actions as unprincipled , you are criticizing them for their lack of moral principles and because they do things which are immoral or dishonest. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is a market where people can be very unprincipled and unpleasant. □ …the unprincipled behaviour of the prosecutor's office during the crisis.
un|print|able /ʌ npr I ntəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something that someone has said or done as unprintable , you mean that it is so rude or shocking that you do not want to say exactly what it was. □ Her reply was unprintable. □ …some quite unprintable stories.
un|pro|duc|tive /ʌ nprədʌ kt I v/ ADJ Something that is unproductive does not produce any good results. □ Research workers are well aware that much of their time and effort is unproductive. □ …increasingly unproductive land.
un|pro|fes|sion|al /ʌ nprəfe ʃən ə l/ ADJ If you use unprofessional to describe someone's behaviour at work, you are criticizing them for not behaving according to the standards that are expected of a person in their profession. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ What she did was very unprofessional. She left abruptly about 90 minutes into the show. □ He was also fined $150 for unprofessional conduct.
un|prof|it|able /ʌ nprɒ f I təb ə l/
1 ADJ An industry, company, or product that is unprofitable does not make any profit or does not make enough profit. [BUSINESS ] □ …unprofitable state-owned industries. □ The newspaper is believed to have been unprofitable for at least the past decade.
2 ADJ Unprofitable activities or efforts do not produce any useful or helpful results. □ …an endless, unprofitable argument. □ The day proved frustratingly unprofitable.
un|prom|is|ing /ʌ nprɒ m I s I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as unpromising , you think that it is unlikely to be successful or produce anything good in the future. □ In fact, his business career had distinctly unpromising beginnings. □ Their land looked so unpromising that the colonists eventually gave most of it back.
un|pro|nounce|able /ʌ nprənaʊ nsəb ə l/ ADJ An unpronounceable word or name is too difficult to say.
un|pro|tect|ed /ʌ nprəte kt I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] An unprotected person or place is not looked after or defended, and so they may be harmed or attacked. □ What better target than an unprotected girl, going along that river walkway in the dark? □ The landing beaches would be unprotected.
2 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] If something is unprotected , it is not covered or treated with anything, and so it may easily be damaged. □ Exposure of unprotected skin to the sun carries the risk of developing skin cancer. □ This leaves fertile soil unprotected and prone to erosion.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] If two people have unprotected sex, they do not use a condom when they have sex.
un|prov|en /ʌ npruː v ə n, -proʊ v-/ or unproved /ʌnpruː vd/ ADJ If something is unproven , it has not definitely been proved to be true. □ There are a lot of unproven allegations flying around.
un|pro|voked /ʌ nprəvoʊ kt/ ADJ If someone makes an unprovoked attack, they attack someone who has not tried to harm them in any way.
un|pub|lished /ʌ npʌ bl I ʃt/ ADJ An unpublished book, letter, or report has never been published. An unpublished writer has never had his or her work published.