English Reference
adjective · noun

unbeaten

adj. · n.
US /ənˈbitən/ UK /ʌnbˈiːtən/ un·beat·en

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    adj.describing a person or team that has not lost a single game or match in a series.

    adj.having avoided defeat throughout a specific period, season, or tournament.

    Simple

    The local football team remained unbeaten for the entire season.

    In context

    Despite facing several top-tier opponents, the champion managed to retire with an unbeaten record spanning over a decade.

    Usage

    Usually functions as a predicative or attributive adjective.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Literary

    adj.describing a path or track that people have not walked on or flattened.

    adj.referring to a path, track, or ground that has not been trodden or packed down by foot traffic.

    Simple

    They hiked through the deep, unbeaten snow in the middle of the forest.

    In context

    The explorers ventured onto unbeaten tracks, seeking ruins that had been swallowed by the jungle centuries ago.

    untroddenpristinewild
    troddenworn
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Cooking

    adj.describing food, like eggs or cream, that has not been mixed or whipped yet.

    adj.referring to ingredients that have not been subjected to a beating or whisking process.

    Simple

    Add the unbeaten egg whites to the bowl slowly.

    In context

    The recipe specifically requires unbeaten cream to be folded into the mixture to maintain a dense consistency.

    unmixed
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Informal Sport

    n.a team or player that has not lost any matches.

    n.a competitor or collective entity that maintains a record free of losses.

    Simple

    The league leaders are the only unbeatens left in the tournament.

    In context

    As the season reached its final weeks, the pressure mounted on the few remaining unbeatens to maintain their perfect streak.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural to refer to a specific group of winners.

    invincibles

Photograph: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock Cardiff remain unbeaten two games into their return to the second tier after goals by Cian Ashford and Yousef Salech earned a 2-2 draw at Derby .

The Guardian· 22 Aug 2026

Their 108-game unbeaten streak started in April 2021.

The Guardian· 19 Aug 2026

From Middle English on bete, unbeten, unibeten; equivalent to un- + beaten; compare Old English ungebeitne (“unhewn”).

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

This entry
Origin Middle English on bete
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated