English Reference
Adjective

unexplained

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌənɪksˈpɫeɪnd/ UK /ˌʌnɛksplˈeɪnd/ un·ex·plained

adj.describing something that has no clear reason or cause. You use this when nobody can find a logical way to explain what happened.

adj.lacking a known cause, reason, or explanation. Often used to describe mysterious phenomena or sudden changes in data.


SIMPLE

The police are investigating his unexplained disappearance.

CONTEXTUAL

The scientists were baffled by the unexplained drop in temperature during the experiment.

COMPLEX

While most of the symptoms were typical for the virus, the patient exhibited several unexplained neurological signs that suggested a more complex underlying condition.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; when used predicatively, it often follows 'remain' or 'be'.

Pitfall
The reason was unexplained of.The reason was unexplained.

Learners sometimes try to add a preposition like 'of' or 'about' after the adjective, but it is typically used alone.

Doctors are being asked to watch out for patients with unexplained fever who work in and around the airport.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

By far the most common is heavy or unexplained bleeding.

The Guardian· 16 Aug 2026

From un- + explained.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated