un

or 'un

[ uhn ]
/ ən /

pronoun Dialect.

one: young uns; He's a bad un.

QUIZZES

IS YOUR VOCABULARY AS STRONG AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT? TRY THIS QUIZ TO SEE!

It may seem like fun and games but this quiz that uses vocab from popular stories will determine how much you know.
Question 1 of 10
disgruntle
to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength
to put into a state of sulky dissatisfaction
to make repayment or return for (service, benefits, etc.)
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Definition for un (2 of 4)

UN

or U.N.

abbreviation

United Nations (def. 1).

Definition for un (3 of 4)

un-1

a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, giving negative or opposite force in adjectives and their derivative adverbs and nouns (unfair; unfairly; unfairness; unfelt; unseen; unfitting; unformed; unheard-of; un-get-at-able), and less freely used in certain other nouns (unrest; unemployment).
Compare un-2.

Origin of un-

1
Middle English un-, on-,Old English; cognate with Dutch on-,Gothic, German un-,Old Norse ū-, ō-; akin to Latin in-,Greek an-, a-.See a-6, an-1, in-3

synonym study for un-

See in-3.

Definition for un (4 of 4)

un-2

a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some action or state, or removal, deprivation, release, etc. (unbend; uncork; unfasten, etc.), or to intensify the force of a verb already having such a meaning (unloose).
Compare un-1.

Origin of un-

2
Middle English, Old English un-, on-; cognate with Gothic and-,Dutch ont-,German ent-; akin to Latin ante,Greek antí;cf. ante-, anti-
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for un (1 of 4)

'un

un

/ (ən) /

pronoun

a spelling of one that's a big 'un

usage for 'un

This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation

British Dictionary definitions for un (2 of 4)

UN

abbreviation for

United Nations

British Dictionary definitions for un (3 of 4)

un-1

prefix

(freely used with adjectives, participles, and their derivative adverbs and nouns: less frequently used with certain other nouns) not; contrary to; opposite ofuncertain; uncomplaining; unemotionally; untidiness; unbelief; unrest; untruth

Word Origin for un-

from Old English on-, un-; related to Gothic on-, German un-, Latin in-

British Dictionary definitions for un (4 of 4)

un-2

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

denoting reversal of an action or stateuncover; untangle
denoting removal from, release, or deprivationunharness; unman; unthrone
(intensifier)unloose

Word Origin for un-

from Old English un-, on-; related to Gothic and-, German ent-, Latin ante
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for un

un-

pref.

Not:unmyelinated.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.