unconscious

[uhn-kon-shuhs]

adjective

1. not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition.

2. temporarily devoid of consciousness.

3. not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

   an unconscious impulse.

4. not consciously realized, planned, or done; without conscious volition or intent.

   an unconscious social slight.

5. not endowed with mental faculties.

   the unconscious stones.

noun

1. Psychoanalysis.,  the unconscious, the part of the mind containing psychic material that is only rarely accessible to awareness but that has a pronounced influence on behavior.

unconscious

/ ʌnˈkɒnʃəs /

adjective

1. lacking normal sensory awareness of the environment; insensible

2. not aware of one's actions, behaviour, etc

   unconscious of his bad manners

3. characterized by lack of awareness or intention

   an unconscious blunder

4. coming from or produced by the unconscious

   unconscious resentment

noun

1. psychoanal the part of the mind containing instincts, impulses, images, and ideas that are not available for direct examination See also collective unconscious Compare subconscious preconscious

unconscious

1. The part of the psyche lying far below consciousness and not easily raised into consciousness. In Freudian psychology, the unconscious cannot be directly observed with the conscious mind, but it has its own processes and deeply affects conscious thought.

Other Word Forms

• unconsciously adverb
• unconsciousness noun
• quasi-unconscious adjective
• self-unconscious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of unconscious¹

First recorded in 1705–15; 1915–20 unconscious for def. 6; un- ¹ + conscious

Example Sentences

He was found by police officers unconscious on the pavement with a severe head injury and in cardiac arrest.

From BBC

She left with a black eye and multiple lacerations after she was knocked unconscious in a brutal attack by a fellow concertgoer.

From Los Angeles Times

Experts agree that music can reduce anxiety and psychological pain, even when someone is unconscious.

From BBC

Smith, whose stage name is Syko Stu, appeared unconscious as Jackson then rapidly punched him 23 times, many of the blows hitting his face.

From Los Angeles Times

They hadn’t been inside long when it took two direct hits from lightning, knocking one occupant unconscious and badly shocking two others.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• innate 
• instinctive 
• latent 
• lost 
• repressed 
• subliminal 
• suppressed