# unfit

/ənˈfɪt/ (US) · /ʌnfˈɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unfit
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not physically healthy

adjective · CEFR B2

not healthy or strong because you do not exercise enough.

For teachers: lacking physical fitness or conditioning; out of shape.

- He felt very unfit after taking a break from the gym for three months.
- The medical report suggested that the patient was dangerously unfit, exhibiting a resting heart rate significantly higher than the average for his age group.

Usage: Often used to describe a temporary state resulting from a lack of exercise.

### 2. unsuitable or low quality

adjective · CEFR B2

not good enough or not suitable for a particular job or purpose.

For teachers: inappropriate or unsuitable for a specific purpose, often due to poor quality or lack of qualifications.

- The old house was declared unfit for people to live in.
- The committee deemed the candidate unfit for the leadership role, citing a lack of experience in international relations.

Usage: Commonly appears in the phrase 'unfit for' followed by a noun or a gerund.

### 3. to make unsuitable

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to make someone or something not suitable for a task.

For teachers: to render someone or something unsuitable or disqualified for a particular purpose.

- His lack of patience might unfit him for a job as a teacher.
- The trauma of the event threatened to unfit her for any further diplomatic service in the region.

Usage: This transitive verb is rare in modern speech and is mostly found in formal or older literature.

## Examples

- He felt very unfit after taking the elevator instead of the stairs.
- The building was declared unfit for human habitation due to severe structural damage and mold.
- Despite his technical expertise, the committee deemed him unfit for the leadership role because of his lack of interpersonal skills and history of poor collaboration.

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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.