# unwanted

/ənˈwɔntɪd/ (US) · /ʌnwˈɒntɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. not desired or needed

adjective · CEFR B1

not wanted, needed, or welcome.

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

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

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

people who are not wanted or are ignored by society.

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

- The old laws were designed to keep the unwanteds out of the city center.
- The novel depicts a dystopian future where the state systematically removes the unwanteds from the urban population.

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

## Examples

- I keep getting unwanted emails from that company.
- The new software update includes a feature to block unwanted calls from unknown numbers.
- The architect aimed to minimize unwanted noise by installing thick acoustic panels throughout the open-plan office space.

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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.