unsecured
Americanadjective
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not secured, especially not insured against loss, as by a bond or pledge.
an unsecured loan.
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not made secure, as a door or lock of hair; unfastened.
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not protected against tapping or interception, as a telephone line or radio communication.
adjective
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finance
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(of a loan, etc) secured only against general assets and not against a specific asset
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(of a creditor) having no security against a specific asset and with a claim inferior to those of secure creditors
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not made secure; loose
Etymology
Origin of unsecured
First recorded in 1770–80; un- 1 + secure ( 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.
According to the CHP, unsecured loads contribute to thousands of crashes each year, which lead to serious injuries and death.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
There is an unsecured process for doing this, designed to make it easier for new owners to take over from previous ones.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
SpaceX lost $400 billion in market value on Monday after the company confirmed prior reports that it would offer senior unsecured notes.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
The secured and unsecured lending rates were also unchanged at 2.375% and 4.250%, respectively.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
They sat on tables, unsecured, like objects in someone’s living room.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
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.
