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

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

Mr. Blair, an emeritus professor of medieval history and archaeology at the University of Oxford, has been thinking about the undead since his childhood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

Reader, this seems like a good time to remind you that drowning is one of the most dangerous dangers to undead animals, and by now, Clare was painfully aware of his waning strength.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman