unarmed

American  

[uhn-ahrmd] / ʌnˈɑrmd /

adjective

1. without weapons or armor.

2. not having claws, thorns, scales, etc., as animals or plants.

3. (of an artillery shell) not armed.

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unarmed British  

/ ʌnˈɑːmd /

adjective

1. without weapons

2. (of animals and plants) having no claws, prickles, spines, thorns, or similar structures

3. of or relating to a projectile that does not use a detonator to initiate explosive action

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Etymology

Origin of unarmed

A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at un- ¹, armed ²

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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

See Examples For:

unarmed

Vote Safe organizers stress that their own volunteers will be unarmed and nonpartisan, and say their purpose is not to confront officials but to provide a familiar presence and record what happens.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

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

At ten o’clock he was still there, unarmed and without a job to do, hunkered down with hundreds of other men who had come ashore and been shot at.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

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Related Words

• helpless
• powerless

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