ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unwanted

adj. · n.
US //ənˈwɔntɪd// UK //ʌnwˈɒntɪd// un·want·ed
  1. 1 not desired or needed (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not wanted, needed, or welcome.

    not desired, required, or welcome; often used to describe physical objects, attention, or social situations.

    Example

    She received a lot of unwanted advice from people who didn't understand her situation.

    Example

    The charity works to find homes for unwanted pets that have been abandoned by their previous owners.

    Usage

    Commonly precedes the noun it modifies, such as 'unwanted attention' or 'unwanted gifts'.
  2. 2 unwelcome people (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Formal

    people who are not wanted or are ignored by society.

    individuals who are considered undesirable or are marginalized by a particular group or society.

    Example

    The old laws were designed to keep the unwanteds out of the city center.

    Example

    The novel depicts a dystopian future where the state systematically removes the unwanteds from the urban population.

    Teacher's tip

    This noun use is rare in modern conversation; learners will mostly encounter it in literature or formal social commentary.
Origin

From un- + wanted.

Word family

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