unpowered

adjective

un·​pow·​ered ˌən-ˈpau̇(-ə)rd How to pronounce unpowered (audio)
: not powered (as by an engine)
unpowered flight
an unpowered descent
Motorized reel mowers are expensive … . Simpler and better is the unpowered model, lighter by many pounds than the cast-iron prewar machine.Eleanor Perenyi

Examples of unpowered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But even more formidable are boost-glide vehicles that use a rocket to loft a glider to the edge of space—which begins at around 330,000 feet—after which the unpowered glider descends at speeds of Mach 20 or more. Michael Peck, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 All planes —powered and unpowered —are controlled by the four forces of flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023 Back in the late 1980s, a Canadian engineer called Tad McGeer built a remarkable pair of mechanical legs that were unpowered, had no actuators, no sensors and no computer control. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023 Ashby earlier this year broke a land-speed record in an unpowered vessel with a sailing rig on wheels. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2023 Since unpowered wires cannot arc, mapping these breaks can give a general idea of the fire’s progression. Douglas Starr, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2011 The barge is unarmed, unpowered, and will probably never leave port. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 23 July 2021 Then, the friction of the unpowered engine slows the car without the driver having to use the brakes. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 16 June 2023 Lisen MagSafe Car Phone Holder Now 50% Off Pros 1-year warranty Swappable mount Passive cooling Cons No MagSafe charging This simple, unpowered MagSafe mount uses permanent magnets to hold your iPhone in place. Nick Hilden, Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unpowered.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpowered was in 1892

Dictionary Entries Near unpowered

Cite this Entry

“Unpowered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpowered. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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