unattached

American  

[uhn-uh-tacht] / ˌʌn əˈtætʃt /

adjective

1. not attached.

2. not connected or associated with any particular body, group, organization, or the like; independent.

3. not engaged or married.

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unattached British  

/ ˌʌnəˈtætʃt /

adjective

1. not connected with any specific thing, body, group, etc; independent

2. not engaged or married

3. (of property) not seized or held as security or in satisfaction of a judgment

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Etymology

Origin of unattached

First recorded in 1490–1500; un- ¹ + attached

Explanation

Unattached things are not connected or fastened. People can also be unattached, which usually means they don't have a long-term sweetheart. If you pull apart two pieces of Velcro, they're unattached. If your tent comes unattached, or disconnected, from its pole, it may collapse. If you're a freelance reporter, you work unattached to a particular paper or magazine. When we say a person is unattached we mean they are not in a committed relationship. In the animal world, unattached means "free to swim around."

Example Sentences

Nvidia is also planning to unveil new computing solutions that involve multiple CPUs that are unattached to GPUs, the way Meta plans to, the Journal has reported.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

The real opportunity lies in attracting and retaining the next generation of top earners – young people who are unattached to place and looking for opportunities to build their careers and their lives.

From Salon • Dec. 5, 2025

He also pushed for an ordinance that makes it illegal to possess an unattached catalytic converter without proof of ownership.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2024

Rowing, or crew, uses rowing oars that are attached to a boat using oarlocks, unlike paddles, which are unattached.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2023

The message of the book is that the Iks have transformed themselves into an irreversibly disagreeable collection of unattached, brutish creatures, totally selfish and loveless, in response to the dismantling of their traditional culture.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas