unprotected

adjective

un·​pro·​tect·​ed ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd How to pronounce unprotected (audio)
1
: lacking protection or defense
unprotected troops
skin unprotected from the sun's rays
2
: performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
also : performed without the use of a condom to prevent spread of sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sex

Examples of unprotected in a Sentence

They're planning to build roads over thousands of acres of unprotected land. If your computer is unprotected, you're likely to get a virus.
Recent Examples on the Web This leaves most countries unprotected and unprepared to cope in the event of a health emergency, whether it’s triggered by climate change or not. Rob Reddick, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 Dear Liz: Personal checks are not stolen while in transit; they’re stolen from mailboxes that are, for the most part, unprotected and not covered by security cameras. Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 Very few people were simply sitting in the parking lot unprotected from the elements, but a small number of hearty souls were out there in the cold and wind. Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2024 In Hollywood, unprotected bike lanes would be installed on Santa Monica Boulevard, HLA supporters said. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024 In Indiana, unprotected areas from near Route 56 to the river are inundated including Aurora. The Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2024 Unlike birth control, an emergency contraception pill is taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse to be the most effective. Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 25 Jan. 2024 The Colorado supreme court thus held that Trump’s speech on January 6 was unprotected, meaning the First Amendment was no bar to disqualifying Trump on the basis of that speech. Thomas A. Berry, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024 Allowing such accounts to go unprotected by strong passwords and other standard security measures would make the lapse worse. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 26 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unprotected was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near unprotected

Cite this Entry

“Unprotected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unprotected. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unprotected

adjective
un·​pro·​tect·​ed ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd How to pronounce unprotected (audio)
1
: lacking protection or defense
unprotected troops
skin unprotected from the sun's rays
2
: performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
also : performed without the use of a condom to prevent the spread of a sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sex

Medical Definition

unprotected

adjective
un·​pro·​tect·​ed -prə-ˈtek-təd How to pronounce unprotected (audio)
: not protected
especially : performed without measures to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sexual intercourse

More from Merriam-Webster on unprotected

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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