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Synonyms

uncollected

British  
/ ˌʌnkəˈlɛktɪd /

adjective

  1. not having been called for, gathered, or collected

"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

Explanation

Something that's uncollected hasn't been assembled or gathered together, like the uncollected poems of your favorite poet, which have only been published in small magazines — never all in one book. There are many books with the word uncollected in the title, like Uncollected Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle or The Uncollected Critical Writings of Edith Wharton. These pieces aren't actually uncollected anymore, since they're being collected and published as books now, but they were previously uncollected. Another way things can be uncollected is when they're not picked up or claimed, like the uncollected garbage bag that's still on your curb or uncollected reward money.

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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.

Garbage in Havana goes uncollected, and public transport is collapsing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

The BLS “carried forward” prices from September to stand in for the uncollected October values, economists at J.P.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

The American Red Cross reported that due to the cancellation of blood drives, more than 2,500 blood donations went uncollected in western North Carolina.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2025

Stephen said that among the uncollected poems are some of the "first he ever published using his own name in the Belfast Telegraph, called Turkeys Observed, which wouldn't have appeared in any earlier editions".

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

Piles of uncollected garbage, along with abandoned vehicles, dotted the banks.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French