unprotected
adjective
un·pro·tect·ed
ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd 
1
: lacking protection or defense
unprotected troops
skin unprotected from the sun's rays
2
: performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
also
: performed without the use of a condom to prevent spread of sexually transmitted infection
unprotected sex
Examples of unprotected in a Sentence
They're planning to build roads over thousands of acres of unprotected land.
If your computer is unprotected, you're likely to get a virus.
Recent Examples on the Web
That has left people in the area feeling unprotected.
—
Lauren Frayer, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Rescue helicopters rarely fly unprotected while on a mission.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
As a result of a Wednesday’s three-team trade involving the expansion teams and the Chicago Sky, both the Fire and Tempo agreed to not select from Chicago’s list of unprotected players.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
The groups said that staffing cuts at VA clinics have left patient care services compromised and clinicians unprotected from potential violence.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unprotected
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauren Frayer, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Rescue helicopters rarely fly unprotected while on a mission.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
As a result of a Wednesday’s three-team trade involving the expansion teams and the Chicago Sky, both the Fire and Tempo agreed to not select from Chicago’s list of unprotected players.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
The groups said that staffing cuts at VA clinics have left patient care services compromised and clinicians unprotected from potential violence.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unprotected
Cite this Entry
“Unprotected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unprotected. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unprotected
adjective
un·pro·tect·ed
ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd
1
: lacking protection or defense
unprotected troops
skin unprotected from the sun's rays
2
: performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
also
: performed without the use of a condom to prevent the spread of a sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sex
Medical Definition
unprotected
adjective
un·pro·tect·ed
-prə-ˈtek-təd
: not protected
especially
: performed without measures to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease
unprotected sexual intercourse
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
