unseen
Americanadjective
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not seen; unperceived; unobserved; invisible.
-
recognized or comprehended without prior study, as a written text or musical score.
adjective
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not observed or perceived; invisible
-
(of passages of writing) not previously seen or prepared
noun
Etymology
Origin of unseen
Explanation
Unseen things are either not noticed or hidden from view, like the unseen subway conductor whose muffled voice you hear making announcements about train delays. If your goal is to be unseen as you sneak in late to your cousin's wedding, you're hoping that no one observes you. Other things are unseen simply because it's not possible to see them: "She was aware of the ghost as a chilly presence in the room, although it remained unseen." The adjective unseen is formed by adding the prefix un-, "not," to seen.
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.
At one point, they came upon previously unseen photographs from Saar’s early career as a costume mistress.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Instead, these legendary predators may still be quietly patrolling the region's waters, largely unseen.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026
The BBC has obtained previously unseen footage of a man who died after being restrained by prison officers, which contradicts the version of events put forward by officials.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Every branch of government should do likewise: identify and weigh the unseen costs, benefits and unintended consequences of each decision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
They had a passion for order and symmetry, much like the Romans, but they knew how foolish it was to deny the unseen world, the old gods.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
