un
pronoun
one.
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un
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UN
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un-
un-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
un
1 American
[uhn]
/ ən /
Or
'un
pronoun
Dialect.
UN
2
American
Or
U.N.
abbreviation
un-
3
American
un-
4
American
un-
1
British
prefix
-
denoting reversal of an action or state
uncover
untangle
-
denoting removal from, release, or deprivation
unharness
unman
unthrone
-
(intensifier)
unloose
UN
2
British
abbreviation
'un
3
British
/ ən /
pronoun
un-
4
British
prefix
Usage
This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation
Synonym Usage
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Often Rosalía just translates herself: “This job doesn’t have more nobility than un carpintero haciendo sillas—a carpenter doing chairs. It’s just about showing up, about practicing, about trying.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
The 58-year-old singer slipped in front of a live audience while performing “Dans un Autre monde” during her Paris residency on Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
As the hotel manager would say, “un client, c’est un client.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Even at the time, their crime was divisive - the first trial ended un a mistrial after the jury couldn't reach a verdict.
From BBC ● May 17, 2025
“Trying to find two new teammates for our Quiz Bowl team. Last year we came in third. This year we’re going to win! ¡Comerme un pan!”
From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein
UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the findings "deeply disturbing".
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
The UN says more than 256,000 people have also been displaced.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
In the latest informal straw poll held last week to gauge which candidates have a shot of becoming the next UN Secretary General, every contender received an effective veto.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Lana Nusseibeh is a well-regarded minister of state at the United Arab Emirates foreign ministry, having previously represented Abu Dhabi at the UN.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Sometimes the UN officials would pay the rest of us a surprise visit in Burundi and ask questions about our family, again checking that we were who we said we were.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
What fascinating characters “The English” has at the margins quickly cycle in and out of the miniseries — bad men and women whose motivations and backgrounds remain un- or underexplored.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2022
All of which is to say that in ways both subtle and not, intentional and un-, he has complicated his relationship with audiences, elaborated and often inverted the idea of Matt Damon.
From New York Times ● Jul. 27, 2021
Along with the vaccine rollout, some states have already been nixing restrictions, and the un- or semi-vaccinated among us are getting a little laxer with our safety calculations.
From Slate ● Apr. 6, 2021
This sense of being un- or under-written raises the spectre of another English author, Rachel Cusk, whose “Outline” trilogy dispenses with many of the classic techniques—plot, dialogue—that give fiction shape.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 24, 2018
Now all I had to do was un- stow the locking handle, and crank, and crank, until— finally—it was locked.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
The young ’un is Trey McKinney, a wiry prodigy who broke into Elite Series fishing in his teens and has twice finished runner-up for Angler of the Year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
Mr Morris explained: "I said to my partner 'That looks like the couple that were in the news', and she said 'She's definitely got something under that coat. It may be a little 'un'."
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2024
“I can tell a wrong ‘un a mile away.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2022
In French, it’s called ‘un sot-l’y-laisse’—i.e., only an idiot leaves it behind.”
From Fox News ● Jul. 24, 2020
All same, would’n’ ’urt, long’s she didn’t let ’un go on the place.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
