unsheltered

American  

[uhn-shel-terd] / ʌnˈʃɛl tərd /

adjective

1. not protected or shielded, as from storms or missiles, by a wall, roof, barrier, dense vegetative cover, or the like: The beach is unsheltered from northern winds and gets big waves in late summer.

   Eastside residents now face a steep climb uphill to an unsheltered bus stop if they want to use public transportation.

   The beach is unsheltered from northern winds and gets big waves in late summer.

2. being without a house or lacking permanent housing; houseless; homeless.

   Veterans experiencing homelessness were more likely to be classified as unsheltered—living in cars, public parks, or under highway overpasses.

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Sensitive Note

See homeless ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of unsheltered

First recorded in 1590–1600; un- ¹ ( def. ) + sheltered ( def. )

Example Sentences

One lesson of the pandemic was that hotels and motels mobilized to house the unsheltered were successful in bringing people indoors who were otherwise reluctant to stay in congregate shelters or withstand involuntary hospitalizations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Since 2023, unsheltered homelessness has fallen by 17.5%, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, but nearly 27,000 still remain on the sidewalks, parks, RVs and elsewhere on the street.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Kuhn said 31% of unsheltered respondents reported injuries, which were more common among people who were already dealing with other health problems.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

The number of unsheltered homeless people in the city dropped by an even steeper margin of 7.9%.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2025

I yell, for we are lying unsheltered in the open field.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque