intact

adjective

in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
1
: untouched especially by anything that harms or diminishes : entire, uninjured
2
of a living body or its parts : having no relevant component removed or destroyed:
a
: physically virginal
b
: not castrated
intactness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for intact

perfect, whole, entire, intact mean not lacking or faulty in any particular.

perfect implies the soundness and the excellence of every part, element, or quality of a thing frequently as an unattainable or theoretical state.

a perfect set of teeth

whole suggests a completeness or perfection that can be sought, gained, or regained.

felt like a whole person again after vacation

entire implies perfection deriving from integrity, soundness, or completeness of a thing.

the entire Beethoven corpus

intact implies retention of perfection of a thing in its natural or original state.

the boat survived the storm intact

Examples of intact in a Sentence

The house survived the war intact. After 25 years, their friendship remained intact.
Recent Examples on the Web But Take Note To keep the tracks intact, parents may want to consider purchasing a Melissa & Doug Multi-Activity Table, which is sold separately. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 Keeping the program intact should be a priority, Cooper said. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Whole grains are grains that keep intact the bran and germ, which each contain tons of essential nutrients. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The palatial apartment has undergone a bright, airy revamp but still has many of its original period details intact. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 Chinese carriers have not been subject to the restrictions, as the relationship between Moscow and Beijing remains intact, leading to calls in the United States and Britain for bans on Chinese flights that use Russian airspace. Laura He, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 Unlike a passenger vehicle, a stock car is also built to endure crashes intact, even at more than 170 mph. Jim Clash, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 With his brain function intact, Carter gave doctors more than just his name when asked. Julia Landwehr, Health, 22 Feb. 2024 And key drivers of growth remain intact — e-commerce, global trade, demand for larger, more efficient distribution centers, said Iddo Benzeevi, chief executive of Highland Fairview, a developer working on a massive logistics center in Moreno Valley. Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intacte, from Latin intactus, from in- + tactus, past participle of tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intact was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near intact

Cite this Entry

“Intact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intact. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intact

adjective
in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
: untouched especially by anything that harms : not damaged or lessened

Medical Definition

intact

adjective
in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
: physically and functionally complete
The sense of smell was intact.
intact cell membranes
specifically, of an animal : not castrated
intactness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on intact

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