unsheltered

[ uhn-shel-terd ]

adjective

1. not protected or shielded, as from storms or missiles, by a wall, roof, barrier, dense vegetative cover, or the like: The beach is unsheltered from northern winds and gets big waves in late summer.

   Eastside residents now face a steep climb uphill to an unsheltered bus stop if they want to use public transportation.

   The beach is unsheltered from northern winds and gets big waves in late summer.

2. being without a house or lacking permanent housing; houseless; homeless:

   Veterans experiencing homelessness were more likely to be classified as unsheltered—living in cars, public parks, or under highway overpasses.

Sensitive Note

See homeless ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of unsheltered¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; un- ¹( def ) + sheltered ( def )

Example Sentences

Of those, more than 250,000 were unsheltered.

From Los Angeles Times

The latest homeless count did show some long-awaited progress: The number of unsheltered homeless people — those who live outside instead of in a shelter or other temporary housing— dropped 5% in the county and 10% in the city.

From Los Angeles Times

The county’s total homeless population as of January, including sheltered and unsheltered people, was essentially unchanged from the year before, about 75,000.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2017, the annual homeless court found 105 people sleeping unsheltered on the city’s streets.

From Los Angeles Times

County, 55,000 of whom are unsheltered, according to the most recent point-in-time count of the homeless population.

From Los Angeles Times