unarmed
Americanadjective
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without weapons or armor.
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not having claws, thorns, scales, etc., as animals or plants.
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(of an artillery shell) not armed.
adjective
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without weapons
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(of animals and plants) having no claws, prickles, spines, thorns, or similar structures
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of or relating to a projectile that does not use a detonator to initiate explosive action
Etymology
Origin of unarmed
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at un- 1, armed 2
Explanation
When someone is unarmed, they don't have any weapons. Leave your slingshot at home if you want to be officially unarmed. Sometimes the adjective unarmed has the sense of "helpless" or "defenseless," as when you hear about military troops attacking unarmed civilians. The word is constructed by adding the prefix un- ("not" ) to armed, which has meant "prepared for battle" since the 13th century, from its Latin root arma, "tools or implements of war."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Words were exchanged between unarmed Joshua Fox and armed Dalton Eatherly.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
A number of Russian drones and one unarmed Russian missile have landed in Poland since Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
In all but one instance, the civilians were unarmed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
“American Skin” is, of course, also known as “41 Shots” and is the story of the killing of unarmed African immigrant Amadou Diallo by the New York City Police Department.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
Those who swelled their little unarmed strength into the reckoning one of leagues, clubs, societies, sisterhoods designed to hold or withhold, move or stay put, make a way, solicit, comfort and ease.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
