# undead

/ˌʌndˈɛd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. dead but animate

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a creature that is dead but still moves and acts like it is alive, such as a zombie.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. the undead

noun · CEFR B2

creatures that are dead but still move, often used as a group name.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The movie features a terrifying army of undead soldiers.
- In many classic horror stories, the undead characters must return to their graves before the sun rises.
- The novel explores the psychological burden of being undead, focusing on a protagonist who retains his human memories while trapped in a decaying, immortal body.

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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.