Word
uncool
Phoneticsun·cool, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌənˈkuɫ/
UK/ʌnkˈuːl/
Informal
Definition
adj. not cool or not stylish. You use this to describe something that is boring, unfashionable, or not popular with your friends.
adj. lacking in style, popularity, or social appeal. Informal in register; typically used to describe actions, objects, or behaviors that fail to meet current social standards of desirability.
Examples
“Wearing that ugly hat to the party is totally uncool.”
“It was pretty uncool of him to ignore his best friend when they were walking down the street.”
“The marketing campaign was criticized as uncool by younger demographics, who found the nostalgic references to 1980s technology to be outdated and inauthentic.”
Examples
simple
“Wearing that ugly hat to the party is totally uncool.”
contextual
“It was pretty uncool of him to ignore his best friend when they were walking down the street.”
complex
“The marketing campaign was criticized as uncool by younger demographics, who found the nostalgic references to 1980s technology to be outdated and inauthentic.”
Real-World Examples
“And who wouldn’t rather be described as cool rather than uncool?” Etymology
From un- + cool.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/uncool