WordGarden.iounscheduled
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnʃˈɛdjuːld/
US
- /ənˈskɛdʒuld/
Meanings
Adjective
not planned for a particular time or not included in a schedule
Beyond the definition
Life rarely goes exactly as planned, and that's where "unscheduled" comes in. Think of it like this: you carefully plan a road trip with stops along the way... then a sudden detour changes everything. That detour is unscheduled, not part of the original plan.
"Unscheduled" describes anything that happens without being planned ahead of time. It can be frustrating, like an unscheduled power outage during your favorite show. Or it can be nice, like an unscheduled visit from a dear friend. In aviation, "unscheduled maintenance" means repairs that are needed outside normal checks. The key idea is that it was not part of the plan.
"Unscheduled" describes something that has not been planned or arranged in advance. It suggests that something is outside the expected timetable or plan. It is often used for events, like an unscheduled meeting popping up on your calendar, but it can also describe activities, tasks, or other things that happen without warning.
Think about a train journey: a scheduled train follows a fixed route and time. An unscheduled stop might happen because of track repairs or an emergency. In the same way, if you are working on a project with deadlines, any task that appears unexpectedly is unscheduled.
The context often changes the tone of "unscheduled." In business, it can suggest a problem: "Due to unscheduled server maintenance, our website will be unavailable." In personal life, though, it can sound more spontaneous and relaxed: "We took an unscheduled day trip to the beach!"
In technical fields like aviation or manufacturing, "unscheduled" often carries a sense of urgency or extra cost. Unscheduled repairs on an aircraft can mean delays and more expense. But in everyday conversation, it simply means something happened without being part of the original plan, a little surprise added to the day. So the next time something unexpected happens, you can describe it as unscheduled.
Examples
- 1
Work meeting
We had an unscheduled meeting after lunch.
- 2
Public transit
The bus made an unscheduled stop to let a sick passenger off.
- 3
Maintenance
The factory closed for unscheduled maintenance over the weekend.
- 4
Inspection
The inspection was unscheduled, so the staff had no time to prepare.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Work leave
She took unscheduled leave after her son was taken to the hospital.
See also
Similar
- unplanned
- unarranged
Shades of meaning
- impromptu
- ad hoc
- unexpected
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- unscheduled meeting
- unscheduled stop
- unscheduled maintenance
- unscheduled absence
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unscheduledadjective