unsung

[uhn-suhng]

adjective

1. not sung; sung; not uttered or rendered by singing.

2. not celebrated in song or verse; not praised or acclaimed.

   the unsung heroes of the war.

unsung

/ ʌnˈsʌŋ /

adjective

1. not acclaimed or honoured

   unsung deeds

2. not yet sung

Word History and Origins

Origin of unsung¹

1375–1425 unsung for def. 1; 1660–70 unsung for def. 2; late Middle English; un- ¹, sung

Example Sentences

“And a special thank you to Poncho, whose loyalty and presence near Barbara’s location helped lead us to her — truly the unsung hero of this rescue.”

From Los Angeles Times

Joan Anderson, who coined the name for the hula hoop and played an unsung role in its rise, has died age 101.

From BBC

These "unsung heroes" called zooplankton gorge themselves and grow fat in spring before sinking hundreds of metres into the deep ocean in Antarctica where they burn the fat.

From BBC

Sir Roger said he was accepting the knighthood "on behalf of all those unsung people who had worked to make the charity the success it had become".

From BBC

Much of the UK's saltmarshes have been lost to agriculture but the charity says they are unsung heroes in nature's fight against climate change.

From BBC

Related Words

• anonymous 
• neglected www.thesaurus.com
• overlooked 
• unacknowledged 
• unrecognized