English Reference
adjective

unconnected

adj.
US /ˌənkəˈnɛktɪd/ UK /ʌnkənˈɛktɪd/ un·con·nect·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    not physically attached or linked to something else.

    lacking a physical connection or structural link between two or more components.

    Simple

    The printer is unconnected to the computer, so it will not work.

    In context

    The technician discovered that the backup generator remained unconnected to the main power grid during the initial installation phase.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    having no relationship or logical link to something else.

    lacking a logical, causal, or thematic relationship; used for events or ideas that happen independently.

    Simple

    The two crimes seemed unconnected at first, but the police found a link.

    In context

    The researcher argued that the rise in local temperatures was entirely unconnected to the changes in regional rainfall patterns observed that decade.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    not knowing important or powerful people who can help you.

    lacking social, professional, or familial associations with influential people or organisations.

    Simple

    As an unconnected outsider, he found it hard to get a job in the city.

    In context

    The candidate struggled to secure funding, as she was relatively unconnected within the traditional circles of venture capital.

    uninfluentialisolated
    well connectedinfluential

She found that an attacker could correctly identify 49% of users' social relationships purely from their online behavior while incorrectly labeling only 10% of unconnected pairs as connected.

Phys.org· 30 Aug 2026

From un- + connected.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated