unimproved

[ uhn-im-proovd ]

adjective

1. not developed to full potential, as resources or the mind.
2. not showing improvement, as one's health, appearance, etc.
3. (of land) not fitted for a profitable use, as by clearing, cultivation, addition of facilities for dwelling or business purposes, or the like.
4. not used to advantage; neglected:

   an unimproved opportunity.

5. (of animal or plant species) not made more useful or attractive by selective breeding or cultivation.
6. not enhanced; not increased:

   Our chance of success is unimproved.

unimproved

/ ˌʌnɪmˈpruːvd /

adjective

1. not improved or made better
2. (of land) not cleared, drained, cultivated, etc
3. neglected; unused

   unimproved resources

Word History and Origins

Origin of unimproved¹

First recorded in 1665–70; un- ¹ + improve ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

“It involves building new infrastructure on unimproved land.”

From Seattle Times

The program is not available for vacant homes, unoccupied vacation rental properties or unimproved parcels.

From Los Angeles Times

Workers in the buildings with good ventilation and lower levels of indoor pollution scored 26.4% higher than those in the unimproved buildings.

From Science Magazine

Equally insulting to Arabic dialects and the Muslim Brotherhood, “The Misfits” is inarguably awful, its grandiose muddle of a plot unimproved by bored camels and barely clothed women.

From New York Times

"You lie to patients when you charge them twice as much for an unimproved drug and then you lie to policymakers when you tell us that R&D justifies those price increases."

From Salon