untouched
Americanadjective
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not touched or handled, as material.
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not explored or visited.
untouched lands.
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not eaten or drunk.
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remaining in a pristine state; unchanged.
an untouched innocent; an untouched world.
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not injured or hurt; undamaged.
untouched by the exploding bombs.
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not affected or altered.
She was untouched by the life around her.
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emotionally unmoved; indifferent.
She was left untouched by the music.
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not mentioned or described, as in conversation or a book.
an untouched subject.
adjective
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not used, handled, touched, etc
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not injured or harmed
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(postpositive) emotionally unmoved
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not changed, modified, or affected
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(of food or drink) left without being consumed
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not mentioned or referred to
he left the subject untouched
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of untouched
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at un- 1, touch, -ed 2
Explanation
Something untouched has literally not been touched (like the untouched spinach on your plate), or has not been emotionally moved (like the hardened criminal who remains untouched throughout his victim's testimony). If you're not moved to some emotion, you're untouched, and if your dog doesn't eat his dinner, you'll see an untouched bowl of kibble still sitting there in the morning. You might find it hard to remain untouched by the fresh, white, untouched snow. This adjective comes from touched, which can mean "emotionally moved" or "physically affected." Add the "not" prefix un-, and you get untouched.
Vocabulary lists containing untouched
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.
"The fact it is still there, untouched, is mind blowing."
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
The salad on the plate — arugula, white beans and sliced apple — remains untouched.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
Once wary of artificial intelligence, Hollywood is now striking up partnerships with AI start-ups and weaving the technology into productions more and more openly -- all while insisting the creative process itself will remain untouched.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Last year, the couple spent another $200,000 overhauling their kitchen, which was untouched from the 1970s, and porch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Compared to Maxwell Street, the Prairie Avenue District seemed as though it belonged to a different place and time, untouched by the coal smoke and ruin.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
