intact

adjective

in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
1
: untouched especially by anything that harms or diminishes : entire, uninjured
2
of a living body or its parts : having no relevant component removed or destroyed:
a
: physically virginal
b
: not castrated
intactness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for intact

perfect, whole, entire, intact mean not lacking or faulty in any particular.

perfect implies the soundness and the excellence of every part, element, or quality of a thing frequently as an unattainable or theoretical state.

a perfect set of teeth

whole suggests a completeness or perfection that can be sought, gained, or regained.

felt like a whole person again after vacation

entire implies perfection deriving from integrity, soundness, or completeness of a thing.

the entire Beethoven corpus

intact implies retention of perfection of a thing in its natural or original state.

the boat survived the storm intact

Examples of intact in a Sentence

The house survived the war intact. After 25 years, their friendship remained intact.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Another photo shared with PEOPLE shows that only one wall of the Stage 1 Company Store is still intact, and that the pavement around the former Miss Piggy fountain has been demolished. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025 The Byron Bay trio reimagined the alt-country classic through their signature laidback lens, dialing up the distortion while keeping the song’s emotional core intact. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2025 The building had a fire in 2014, according to the Fremont Tribune, which left the electrical system damaged, but the structure remained intact. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 30 July 2025 In addition to fighting inflation, the Fed is also responsible for keeping the labor market intact. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for intact

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intacte, from Latin intactus, from in- + tactus, past participle of tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intact was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intact. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

intact

adjective
in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
: untouched especially by anything that harms : not damaged or lessened

Medical Definition

intact

adjective
in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
: physically and functionally complete
The sense of smell was intact.
intact cell membranes
specifically, of an animal : not castrated
intactness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on intact

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