unprotected

adjective

un·​pro·​tect·​ed ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd How to pronounce unprotected (audio)
Synonyms of unprotectednext
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 infection
unprotected sex

Synonyms of unprotected

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those weaknesses could enable cybercriminals to seize control of unprotected website servers, install malware, pilfer customer data and even take sites down completely. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 My district is left unprotected so that Second Street can be safe. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 The Kindle is natively compatible with Amazon’s AZW and AZW3 Kindle file formats, as well as PDF, TXT, and unprotected MOBI and PRC. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026 However, the fibers cannot simply be dropped into the ocean unprotected. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unprotected

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unprotected was in 1597

Rhymes for unprotected

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Browse Nearby Words

unprostituted
unprotected
unprotestantize
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Cite this Entry

“Unprotected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unprotected. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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
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