unrelated
Britishadjective
-
not connected or associated
an unrelated incident
-
not connected by kinship or marriage
Explanation
Unrelated is a good way to describe things that aren't connected or linked in any way. You might insist that your dented car bumper is unrelated to your neighbor's smashed mailbox. Things that have no connection are unrelated: your excellent test grade is unrelated to the shoes your wore on the day you took it, and your inability remember the name of the movie you just watched is unrelated to the fact that the sun is shining. You can also describe two people who aren't in the same family as unrelated. The Latin root is relatus, a past participle of referre, "bring back."
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.
This is not always enough time to connect seemingly unrelated symptoms—or simply answer every question.
From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026
They ordered dozens, even hundreds of books at a time, on completely unrelated subjects, and routed them through logistics warehouses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Blanche at an unrelated news conference last week declined to say whether he thought Pirro had correctly handled the pool case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
A 16-year-old was detained in a nearby neighborhood and arrested in connection with an unrelated investigation, authorities said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
We did not think that the arrests were unrelated.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
