unimproved
Americanadjective
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not developed to full potential, as resources or the mind.
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not showing improvement, as one's health, appearance, etc.
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(of land) not fitted for a profitable use, as by clearing, cultivation, addition of facilities for dwelling or business purposes, or the like.
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not used to advantage; neglected.
an unimproved opportunity.
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(of animal or plant species) not made more useful or attractive by selective breeding or cultivation.
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not enhanced; not increased.
Our chance of success is unimproved.
adjective
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not improved or made better
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(of land) not cleared, drained, cultivated, etc
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neglected; unused
unimproved resources
Etymology
Origin of unimproved
First recorded in 1665–70; un- 1 + improve ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
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.
His skepticism of “improved means to an unimproved end”—which essentially alleged that, as life got faster, it didn’t necessarily get better—resonated with laborers watching their jobs vanish in the face of industrialization.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
However, Plantlife said violet coral was usually found in "unimproved grassland", with pink waxcap more often seen in western Britain, particularly in Wales on sheep-grazed acid grassland.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2025
“It involves building new infrastructure on unimproved land.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2023
The program is not available for vacant homes, unoccupied vacation rental properties or unimproved parcels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2023
Hominy Ridge was nothing but an out-of-date, unimproved, one-room country schoolhouse in the backwoodsiest corner of Indiana.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
