unbleached

British  

/ ʌnˈbliːtʃt /

adjective

1. not having been made or become white or lighter through exposure to sunlight or by the action of chemical agents, etc

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Explanation

Use the adjective unbleached to describe something that looks like it might be chemically lightened but actually isn't. If you're a baker, you might know that regular, all-purpose flour is often chemically treated — while unbleached flour is not. The word unbleached comes from adding the prefix un- ("not") to bleached, which stems from a root word that means "shining white." You'll almost always find this adjective describing things that might typically be bleached. For example, fabric and paper are often lightened with chemicals, but unbleached cotton fabric and unbleached writing paper are not.

Example Sentences

He now sews most pairs of Unbleached Apparel underwear by hand in his Brooklyn studio, at a rate of about one pair every 30 minutes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

In late 2022, Chance Landesman launched Unbleached Apparel, a company that produces garments including underwear made from untreated cotton.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Unbleached sultite rose from $40-42 a ton at the end of 1939 to $50 in 1940's first quarter, to $63-50-$67.50 last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

Unbleached calico is a very fair imitation of the skin of one's head.

From The Peace Egg and Other tales by Ewing, Juliana Horatia Gatty

Unbleached muslin makes the best bag for this granulation.

From All About Coffee by Ukers, William H. (William Harrison)

Related Words

• pure
• raw