undead

American  

[uhn-ded] / ˌʌnˈdɛd /

adjective

1. no longer alive but animated by a supernatural force, as a vampire or zombie.

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noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. undead beings collectively.

undead British  

/ ʌnˈdɛd /

adjective

1. 1. (of a fictional being, such as a vampire) technically dead but reanimated

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the undead

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Etymology

Origin of undead

First recorded in 1895–1900; un- ¹ ( def. ) + dead ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

undead

Lestat is slightly bored with existing yet curious to see whether his music, primarily plied on the Internet, can reach enough undead followers to hasten the vampire apocalypse known as The Great Conversion.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

But for a musical about the undead, it’s refreshingly human.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026

Leigh Price, 51, from Builth Wells, said he was not prepping for hordes of the undead roaming the landscape, as many might assume, but for much more real threats.

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2026

Being resurrected for a fourth season doesn’t necessarily qualify a dramatic series as being among the undead, though “Industry” really is a vampire story.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026

“Yes, Mrs. Edgar said they’ve seen a few undead around their property of late,” Katherine interjects.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland