Word
undead
Phoneticsun·dead
UK/ˌʌndˈɛd/
Definitions
01dead but animate
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing a creature that is dead but still moves and acts like it is alive, such as a zombie.
adj. pertaining to a deceased entity that retains a state of animation or consciousness, typically within the context of horror or fantasy fiction.
“In the movie, an army of undead soldiers rose from their graves.”
“The protagonist realized that the villagers were not merely sick, but had been transformed into undead thralls by the sorcerer.”
Usage
Usually non-gradable; a creature is either undead or it is not.
Synonyms
02the undead
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. creatures that are dead but still move, often used as a group name.
n. a category of beings that are deceased yet animate; often used as a collective noun with the definite article.
“The survivors built a high wall to keep the undead out of the city.”
“The folklore of the region is rich with tales of the undead returning to haunt those who disturbed their rest.”
Usage
Often used as a collective noun ('the undead') to refer to a group.
Teaching tip
Remind students that 'the undead' functions like 'the poor' or 'the rich', acting as a plural noun phrase.
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English undede, equivalent to un- + dead. The first attestation is from around 1400. The term was revived, popularized, and imbued with supernatural connotations by its usage in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/undead