unskilled

adjective

un·​skilled ˌən-ˈskild 

1

: not skilled in a branch of work : lacking technical training

an unskilled worker

2

: not requiring skill

unskilled jobs

3

: marked by lack of skill

produced unskilled poems

Synonyms of unskilled

• inexperienced
• amateur

Examples of unskilled in a Sentence

an unskilled handling of the facial features in the portrait explains why it is attributed to “school of Velázquez” and not to the master himself

hired unskilled workers because they would work for lower wages

Recent Examples on the Web

What increased access to AI tools has done is lower the barrier to entry for even unskilled hackers to target low-hanging fruit. — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026

Many also regard government employment as inherently more stable and dignified than the harsh labor markets of the private sector, especially for the relatively unskilled. — Anthony W. Pereira, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

An unskilled crew can raise a structural shell in weeks instead of months, and the finished building resists fire, mold, and Category 5 hurricane winds. — Joe Mullich, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Persona did not see economic viability in the unskilled labor approach, Radford says. — Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unskilled

• redistilled
• semiskilled
• unfulfilled
• backfilled
• distilled
• fulfilled
• infilled
• instilled
• rebuild
• refilled
• unfilled
• untilled

Kids Definition

unskilled

adjective

un·​skilled ˌən-ˈskild 

ˈən-

1

: not skilled

especially : not skilled in a branch of work : lacking mechanical training

an unskilled worker

2

: not requiring skill

unskilled jobs

3

: marked by lack of skill

an unskilled painting