Jump To:

• un
  un

  pronoun

  one.
• UN
  UN

  abbreviation

  United Nations.
• un-
  un-

  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 ).
• 'un
  'un

  pronoun

  a spelling of one

un

¹ American  

[uhn] / ən /

Or 'un

pronoun

Dialect.

1. one.

   young uns; He's a bad un.

---

UN ² American  

Or U.N.

abbreviation

1. United Nations.

---

un- ³ American  

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 ).

---

un- ⁴ American  

1. 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 ).

---

un- ¹ British  

prefix

1. denoting reversal of an action or state

   uncover

   untangle

2. denoting removal from, release, or deprivation

   unharness

   unman

   unthrone

3. (intensifier)

   unloose

---

UN ² British  

abbreviation

1. United Nations

---

'un ³ British  

/ ən /

pronoun

1. a spelling of one

   that's a big 'un

---

un- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. (freely used with adjectives, participles, and their derivative adverbs and nouns: less frequently used with certain other nouns) not; contrary to; opposite of

   uncertain

   uncomplaining

   unemotionally

   untidiness

   unbelief

   unrest

   untruth

---

Usage

This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation

Synonym Usage

See in- ³.

Etymology

Origin of un-³

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

Origin of un-⁴

Middle English, Old English un-, on-; cognate with Gothic and-, Dutch ont-, German ent-; akin to Latin ante, Greek antí; cf. ante-, anti-

Example Sentences

“We will stay together. Zeus is un imbecile.”

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

What else should un be, seeing as he rules ’em.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

“But how can a pore urchin dump un on ter noase? When ee ha’nt got nothing to dump with, nor way to hold ’un?

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Turning back to the class, she smiles and continues, “Et il y aura un test jeudi.”

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

“Pooh! Grown-ups are always thinking of un interesting explanations,” said Digory.

From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis