unskilled

American  

[uhn-skild] / ʌnˈskɪld /

adjective

1. of or relating to workers who lack technical training or skill.

2. not demanding special training or skill.

   unskilled occupations.

3. exhibiting a marked lack of skill or competence.

   an unskilled painting; an unskilled writer.

4. not skilled skill skilled or expert.

   He was unskilled in the art of rhetoric.

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unskilled British  

/ ʌnˈskɪld /

adjective

1. not having or requiring any special skill or training

   unskilled workers

   an unskilled job

2. having or displaying no skill; inexpert

   he is quite unskilled at dancing

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Etymology

Origin of unskilled

First recorded in 1575–85; un- ¹ + skilled

Example Sentences

The Knights of Labor, founded in 1869, became the first mass labor organization, welcoming all “producers”: skilled and unskilled, Black and white, men and women.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s technological wizardry engineered by the man behind the curtain himself to convince the Munchkins that Glinda, charismatic but haplessly unskilled, has supernatural talents.

From Los Angeles Times

India has largely missed the bus on low-end, unskilled factory work - jobs China dominated for decades.

From BBC

As a counterpoint, when Paul makes the same boast to the hiring manager at the local tannery, she circles “unskilled labor.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Domestic work is considered to be unskilled work but that is not the case in reality. You cannot care for a sick person or cook a meal without being skilled," she adds.

From BBC

Related Words

• incompetent
• inexperienced
• uneducated
• unqualified
• unschooled