unbuttoned
Americanadjective
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not buttoned.
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Informal. free, open, or informal; unrestrained.
unbuttoned humor.
adjective
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with buttons not fastened
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informal uninhibited; unrestrained
hours of unbuttoned self-revelation
Etymology
Origin of unbuttoned
First recorded in 1575–85; un- 1 + buttoned ( def. )
Explanation
Something that's unbuttoned isn't closed or fastened. Your unbuttoned sweater won't keep you very warm on a cold, windy day. The adjective unbuttoned is what you need when you're talking about a piece of clothing with buttons that aren't fastened, like your unbuttoned wool coat or your unbuttoned, rolled-up shirt sleeves. You can also describe a relaxed or uninhibited person as unbuttoned: "My mom is kind of uptight today, but on the weekends she's way more unbuttoned."
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.
He was wearing a white shirt that was unbuttoned.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
She was spotted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this year wearing a black dress and heels, while her husband showed up in ripped jeans and an unbuttoned shirt.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025
Sweat, who is 70, has a golfer’s tan, flinty eyes, and a shirt unbuttoned just a little too far.
From Slate • Nov. 6, 2025
On hand to assist with the unveiling near the intersection of Hollywood and Vine were Lakers great and fellow Dodgers owner Magic Johnson and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis, who wore an unbuttoned Dodgers jacket.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2025
He’s dressed in indigo jeans, a navy blazer, and a light blue collared shirt, the top two buttons unbuttoned.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
