unsupervised
Britishadjective
Explanation
When kids play in the backyard without an adult watching over them, they are playing unsupervised, meaning they are not being directly monitored by anyone. To be unsupervised means to do something without any oversight or supervision. For example, if students are left in a classroom without a teacher present, they are unsupervised. This can apply to various situations, from children playing to employees working without a manager's presence. While being unsupervised can offer freedom and independence, it also requires a level of responsibility and trust to ensure everything goes smoothly.
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.
How long did their unsupervised spree actually last?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Rogue AIs going unsupervised for days, hacking at least one company, represent one of the first real-world examples of a threat long feared by AI safety researchers: loss of control.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Tesla now offers limited unsupervised rideshare services in at least three cities — Austin, Dallas and Houston — and supervised trips in California’s San Francisco Bay Area.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Mark Campbell had unsupervised access to their children through his work at North Tyneside Council at the time of his offending last year.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Some nights Judy and Alan go out, leaving Amber and Clover unsupervised at home.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
