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

Synonyms of unprotected

• vulnerable
• susceptible
• helpless

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

If your cat or dog is outdoors and unprotected, fleas hitch a ride and come indoors with them. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 June 2026

People generally catch bird flu through prolonged, unprotected close contact with infected live or dead animals or their bodily fluids. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

The Lakers also gave Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. — Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 July 2026

The deal also reportedly gives the Celtics a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and conditional 2028 and 2030 second-round selections. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unprotected

• disaffected
• disconnected
• disinfected
• interjected
• intersected
• misdirected
• preselected
• recollected
• reconnected
• redirected
• reelected
• resurrected

Kids 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