English Reference
adjective

unattractive

adj.
US /ˌənəˈtɹæktɪv/ UK /ʌnɐtɹˈæktɪv/ unattrac·tive

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    not pleasing to look at; not handsome or pretty.

    lacking aesthetic appeal or physical beauty.

    Simple

    The old factory was an unattractive building made of grey concrete.

    In context

    The developer faced criticism for replacing the historic park with an unattractive block of luxury apartments that clashed with the local architecture.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    not interesting or not a good choice.

    lacking qualities that invite interest or desire; disadvantageous or unappealing in a professional or financial context.

    Simple

    The low salary made the job offer very unattractive to most applicants.

    In context

    High interest rates and market volatility made the long-term bond look increasingly unattractive to conservative investors.

    unappealingundesirableoff putting

From un- + attractive.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated