# unabridged

/ˌənəˈbɹɪdʒd/ (US) · /ˌʌnɐbɹˈɪdʒd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unabridged
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

complete, with nothing cut out or made shorter. You use it for books, recordings, or dictionaries that keep every original word.

For teachers: containing the complete original text without cuts or shortening. Typically describes books, audiobooks, and dictionaries presented in full.

## Examples

- She reads the unabridged version of the novel.
- The library offers the unabridged audiobook, which runs for over twenty hours.
- Scholars prefer the unabridged edition of the diaries because shorter versions omit passages essential to understanding the author's political development.

## Synonyms

complete, uncut

## Antonyms

abridged, shorten, condensed, abbreviated

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies.

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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.