# uncontrolled

/ˌənkənˈtɹoʊɫd/ (US) · /ʌnkəntɹˈəʊld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/uncontrolled
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. without restraint or limit

adjective · CEFR B2

not limited or managed by anyone, often in a way that is dangerous or out of hand.

For teachers: lacking restraint, regulation, or external management; often implies a state of chaos or increasing intensity.

- The uncontrolled fire spread quickly through the dry forest.
- Economists warned that uncontrolled inflation could destabilise the national currency and erode the savings of the middle class.

### 2. traffic/roads

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a road or intersection that does not have signs, lights, or signals to manage traffic.

For teachers: referring to a road junction or crossing that lacks formal traffic control devices such as signals, stop signs, or markings.

- Drivers must be very careful when turning at an uncontrolled intersection.
- The city council voted to install a roundabout at the uncontrolled crossing following a series of minor accidents involving pedestrians.

Usage: Commonly used in civil engineering and urban planning contexts.

## Examples

- The fire spread in an uncontrolled way through the forest.
- The experiment failed because of an uncontrolled rise in temperature within the reaction chamber.
- Economists warned that uncontrolled inflation could erode the purchasing power of the middle class and lead to widespread social instability if the central bank failed to intervene.

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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.