unexplored

British  

/ ˌʌnɪkˈsplɔːd /

adjective

1. not having been explored

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Explanation

Anything that's unexplored hasn't been discovered or investigated. The vast majority of the ocean is still unexplored. Unexplored is formed by adding the prefix un-, or "not, " to explored, which has a Latin root that means "investigate or search out." You can describe literal uncharted territory this way, like the parts of Antarctica that are so cold that humans haven't yet ventured there. It's also a good word for anything that hasn't been experienced or looked into: "I've brought my lunch every day, so the cafeteria food remains totally unexplored!"

Example Sentences

This path will carry them through an unexplored region of Earth's distant magnetotail, the part of Earth's magnetic environment that extends away from the Sun.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

The country’s large rare-metals deposits are still largely unexplored due to a lack of capital and expertise.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

Suggesting the scale of the unexplored files on Andrew, one rejection said that one year of his time as trade envoy would mean going through 1,927 digital files, each containing multiple pieces of information.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

Surveying and mining under such a thick ice sheet is impossible, according to experts, leaving large areas of the territory unexplored.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

Another almost unexplored area is the question of interactions between chemicals, a question that becomes especially urgent when they enter the marine environment where so many different minerals are subjected to mixing and transport.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• uncharted