unstructured
Americanadjective
adjective
-
without formal structure or systematic organization
-
without a preformed shape; (esp of clothes) loose; untailored
Etymology
Origin of unstructured
First recorded in 1940–45; un- 1 + structured
Explanation
Unstructured is an adjective describing something that lacks structure or form. Some things should never be left unstructured, like a schedule for building a house or a timeline for retirement. A popular phrase that's currently associated with this adjective is unstructured time, which is another way of saying "there's nothing on the schedule." Unstructured time might encourage daydreaming, creativity, or stress management, but for extremely organized people who like to follow schedules and have everything in order, unstructured anything can make them feel lazy or crazy.
Vocabulary lists containing unstructured
Articles on Dangers of Technology
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Deven: The Seventh Star
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stru, struct (make, build)
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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.
In forthcoming work, two researchers at Google and I demonstrate that amplifying honesty-related circuits during unstructured AI self-talk also causes significantly more experiential reports.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Large language models enable unstructured as well as structured data to be extracted and quality-controlled in real-time in a way that wasn’t possible before, said Paradigm founder and Chief Executive Kent Thoelke.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Data isn’t ready: Most firms are sitting on years of unstructured information — documents, models, notes — that weren’t designed for machines.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
This is a meeting of two sides who want to play, who thrive on unstructured rugby from turnovers, who are at their very best when the game is fast and loose.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026
After the pictures, we’d be free for the rest of the day to mourn the final moments of our unstructured summer.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
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.
