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Synonyms

uncharted

American  
[uhn-chahr-tid] / ʌnˈtʃɑr tɪd /

adjective

  1. not shown or located on a map; unexplored; unknown, as a place or region.

    the uncharted depths of space.
uncharted British  
/ ʌnˈtʃɑːtɪd /

adjective

  1. (of a physical or nonphysical region or area) not yet mapped, surveyed, or investigated

    uncharted waters

    the uncharted depths of the mind
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What’s the difference between uncharted and unchartered? Uncharted means unexplored or unmapped, as in uncharted territory or uncharted waters. Unchartered means not having (or not done under) a charter or some other kind of official authorization, as in an unchartered flight. It’s sometimes used to mean unauthorized or lawless, as in unchartered activity. The chart in uncharted refers to a map, but charted is not commonly used as an adjective—most people would say mapped. In contrast, both unchartered and chartered (meaning having a charter or officially authorized) are used.The two words are often used in much different contexts, but there are some cases where both could apply. For example, a remote parcel of land may be both uncharted (unmapped) and unchartered (not bound by any official charters or laws).Here’s an example of uncharted and unchartered used correctly in a sentence.Example: The movie is an adventure about a group of teens who take a secret, unchartered flight to explore an uncharted island. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between uncharted and unchartered.

Etymology

Origin of uncharted

First recorded in 1840–50; un- 1 + chart + -ed 2

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.

That surge in AI-related borrowing could take the corporate bond markets into uncharted territory, with degrees of concentration similar to those seen in equity markets over recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

"We have entered a new field of research here, uncharted territory where many exciting discoveries are likely to be made," says Varykhalov.

From Science Daily • Feb. 16, 2026

The combination has sent Welsh public belief plummeting to uncharted depths.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

For “Scarlet,” Hosoda ventures into uncharted aesthetic territory.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

He was sailing to an uncharted coast, in an untried ship.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

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.