unbound
Americanverb
adjective
-
not bound, as a book.
-
free; not attached, as by a chemical bond.
unbound electrons.
verb
adjective
-
(of a book) not bound within a cover
-
not restrained or tied down by bonds
-
(of a morpheme) able to form a word by itself; free
Etymology
Origin of unbound
before 900; (adj.) Middle English unbounde, unbunden, Old English unbunden; see un- 1, bound 1
Explanation
Things that are free, rather than attached or restrained, are unbound. You prefer your to wear your hair in a tight ponytail to keep it off your face, while your best friend likes her hair unbound. If you untie your pet goats so they can roam free, they'll be unbound. It's even more common to use this adjective figuratively, to mean "free" or "unconstrained," like little kids who are unbound from conventional ideas of politeness, or students in the summer, unbound from school, who are free to sleep late.
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.
There are copious cognitive benefits and endless possibilities for where their imaginations can run, unbound by the limiting confines of a tablet.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
Clemency is a plea, unbound by the structure and procedural limitations of the law.
From Slate ● Mar. 6, 2026
His scores, with their inherent rigor and overt religiosity, seemingly simple structure and patient exposition, conjure a world both foundational and unbound.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2025
But once he releases his delegates, they would be unbound by his wishes, meaning any number of candidates can try to win a majority of more than 4,500 voting party delegates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2024
The late-afternoon sunlight warmed her face, and the last balmy breeze of autumn rushed through her unbound hair.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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.
