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; cf. ante-, anti-

Example Sentences

Y vuelven a ser All-Stars, todos mayores de 37 años y aún jugando a un alto nivel.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

A sus 41 años y jugando su 23ª temporada, un récord, se le preguntó a James sobre su futuro, ya que su eventual retirada siempre parece ser motivo de curiosidad.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

Todo ello se sumó para perjudicar a un partido que los Rams podrían haber ganado y deberían haberlo ganado.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

Una mala decisión de renunciar a un intento de gol de campo en el cuarto cuarto.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

How we all crowded around the radio to hear our own code announced on the BBC—“Tous les enfants, sauf un, grandissent”—the random message that told our reception committee in France whom to expect that night.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein