unmanned

adjective

un·​manned ˌən-ˈmand 

1

see usage paragraph below : not carrying, staffed, or performed by people : not manned

an unmanned railroad crossing

unmanned spaceflight

2

of a hawk : not trained

Usage of Manned and Unmanned

While manned and unmanned are still commonly used in news sources to describe spaceflights with and without human crews, respectively, NASA has since the early 21st century used and prescribed gender-neutral terms, preferring such descriptors as human, piloted, and crewed for the former, and unpiloted and uncrewed for the latter.

Examples of unmanned in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tehran has provided the group with sea mines, ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones), according to a 2021 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

The modern security landscape requires satellite systems, cyber capabilities, electronic warfare technology, unmanned systems, and advanced materials that draw on a broader ecosystem of companies. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

And land drones, or unmanned ground vehicles, are replacing infantry on the frontline. — Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 22 July 2026

Today, a massive boom in airborne military drones is driving a shift toward hybrid conventional/unmanned forces. — David Szondy july 21, New Atlas, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1544, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unmanned

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

unmanned

adjective

un·​manned ˌən-ˈmand 

ˈən-

: having no crew aboard

an unmanned spacecraft