WordGarden.iounprotected
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnprətˈɛktɪd/
US
- /ˌənprəˈtɛktɪd/
Meanings
Adjective
not guarded, covered, or made safe against harm, loss, or outside danger
not secured against unauthorized digital access or attack
involving sex without a condom or other barrier protection
Beyond the definition
To be unprotected means lacking defense or safety from harm. Think of a baby bird fallen from its nest - it is completely unprotected from predators. But it is not just about physical danger. You can feel unprotected emotionally if someone breaks your trust, or financially if you have not saved for a difficult time. A place with no warning system is unprotected against attack. The word suggests being open to harm or risk.
The word "unprotected" describes something, or someone, that lacks the safeguards, defenses, or covering needed against harm, danger, or exposure. It suggests vulnerability and a higher risk of suffering negative consequences.
Think about a delicate flower unprotected from frost - it will likely wither. Or consider a computer network unprotected by a firewall; it is open to cyberattacks. The context can vary widely. A witness in court might feel unprotected if they fear retaliation for testifying. A coastline unprotected by reefs is more likely to erode.
"Unprotected" is not simply about the absence of physical barriers. It can also refer to emotional vulnerability, such as feeling unprotected after a betrayal, or lacking the support needed to cope with difficult circumstances. It can even describe something legally vulnerable: "The species is currently unprotected by law and faces extinction."
Essentially, if something is unprotected, it is exposed, defenseless, and at risk, whether physically, emotionally, or legally. It highlights a lack of security and the potential for harm.
Examples
- 1
Sun exposure
I forgot sunscreen, and the back of my neck was unprotected all afternoon.
- 2
Weather damage
Leave the bike outside in winter, and the metal parts will be unprotected from the rain.
- Patternunprotected from + danger
not kept safe from it
- 3
Security
After the guard went home, the front entrance was left unprotected.
- 4
Data security
The customer data was stored on an unprotected server.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sexual health
Doctors warn teenagers about the risks of unprotected sex.
- Phraseunprotected sex
sex without a condom or other protection
See also
Similar
- unguarded
- unshielded
- defenseless
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- unprotected sex
- unprotected area
- unprotected data
- left unprotected
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unprotectedadjective