unmanned
adj.adj. operating without a person inside to control it. You use this to describe machines like drones or space probes that work on their own or by remote control.
adj. not carrying or operated by a person or crew. Often refers to autonomous or remotely piloted vehicles and equipment.
The military uses unmanned drones for surveillance.
The space agency successfully landed an unmanned probe on the surface of the distant moon to collect soil samples.
Advancements in artificial intelligence have accelerated the development of unmanned underwater vehicles capable of mapping the ocean floor without any direct human intervention for months at a time.
From un- + manned.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically used attributively before a noun.
Last updated May 7, 2026