un

¹ American  

[uhn] / ən /

Or 'un

pronoun

Dialect.

1. one.

   young uns; He's a bad un.

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UN ² American  

Or U.N.

abbreviation

1. United Nations.

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un- ³ American  

1. a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, giving negative or opposite force in adjectives and their derivative adverbs and nouns (unfair; unfairly; unfairness; unfelt; unseen; unfitting; unformed; unheard-of; un-get-at-able ), and less freely used in certain other nouns (unrest; unemployment ).

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un- ⁴ American  

1. a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some action or state, or removal, deprivation, release, etc. (unbend; uncork; unfasten , etc.), or to intensify the force of a verb already having such a meaning (unloose ).

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un- ¹ British  

prefix

1. denoting reversal of an action or state

   uncover

   untangle

2. denoting removal from, release, or deprivation

   unharness

   unman

   unthrone

3. (intensifier)

   unloose

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UN ² British  

abbreviation

1. United Nations

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'un ³ British  

/ ən /

pronoun

1. a spelling of one

   that's a big 'un

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un- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. (freely used with adjectives, participles, and their derivative adverbs and nouns: less frequently used with certain other nouns) not; contrary to; opposite of

   uncertain

   uncomplaining

   unemotionally

   untidiness

   unbelief

   unrest

   untruth

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Usage

This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation

Related Words

See in- ³.

Etymology

Origin of un-³

Middle English un-, on-, Old English; cognate with Dutch on-, Gothic, German un-, Old Norse ū-, ō-; akin to Latin in-, Greek an-, a-. See a- ⁶, an- ¹, in- ³

Origin of un-⁴

Middle English, Old English un-, on-; cognate with Gothic and-, Dutch ont-, German ent-; akin to Latin ante, Greek antí; ante-, anti-

Example Sentences

El Team Stars, el primer equipo en anotar cinco puntos en la prórroga, ganó 37-35 con un triple de Scottie Barnes.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

Se le preguntó a James si se habría imaginado un formato de Estados Unidos contra el mundo.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

Edwards, que sumó 11 puntos en el segundo partido, tomó el control al final, anotando y luego robando el balón antes de encestar un triple para poner el 40-39 al final.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

A continuación, el Team Stripes venció al Team Stars por 42-40 con un triple de De’Aaron Fox al final del tiempo reglamentario.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

He gave his old business partner un abrazo, addressing him as compadre even though neither one was godparent to the other’s children.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez