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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.

See Examples For:

The enclave has been struck with a severe rat infestation fueled by uncollected trash and warmer weather.

From The Wall Street Journal May 24, 2026

Images of uncollected garbage rotting on Havana’s streets have been broadcast across the globe.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 13, 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

Strikes have led to rubbish piling up, with uncollected waste several feet high in some streets in the first few months, amid complaints of rats, foxes and seagulls tearing open plastic bags.

From BBC Dec. 1, 2025

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

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

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