# intact

/ˌɪnˈtækt/ (US) · /ɪntˈækt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intact
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. undamaged or whole

adjective · CEFR B2

not damaged or broken; remaining in one piece after an accident or a long time.

For teachers: remaining whole, entire, or undiminished; not damaged or altered by any external force.

- Most of the house was destroyed in the fire, but the kitchen remained intact.
- Archaeologists were astonished to find the burial chamber completely intact, with the seals on the stone doors still unbroken after three millennia.

### 2. not castrated

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

used to describe a male animal that has not been operated on to prevent it from having babies.

For teachers: referring to a male animal that has not undergone orchidectomy or castration.

- The farmer kept the intact males in a separate field from the rest of the herd.
- The veterinary clinic charges a higher fee for boarding intact male dogs due to the additional management required to prevent aggressive behaviour.

Usage: Commonly used in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry.

### 3. uncircumcised

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

used to describe a male who still has his foreskin.

For teachers: referring to a male who has not undergone circumcision.

- The doctor noted that the infant was intact during the routine check-up.
- Medical discussions regarding neonatal care often use the term intact to describe the natural state of the anatomy prior to any surgical intervention.

## Examples

- The glass fell on the floor but remained intact.
- Despite the heavy storm last night, the old wooden fence remained completely intact.
- Archaeologists were surprised to find the burial chamber entirely intact, with the pottery and gold ornaments exactly where they had been placed thousands of years ago.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.