unaided

adjective un·aid·ed \ ˌən-ˈā-dəd \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of unaided

: not provided with help or assistance

a star that is visible to the unaided eye [=that can be seen without a telescope or binoculars]

: not aided or assisted

paid for her education unaided by her parents

… he walks unaided except for a simple wooden cane.
—Kate Coyne

See unaided defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unaided from the Web

Such a startling stat highlights their considerable scoring issues, unaided by the loss of the two erstwhile players who have scored more goals than Madrid's defender, Loic Remy and Jonathan Viera.

— SI.com, "Las Palmas vs Real Madrid Preview: Classic Encounter, Key Battle, Team News & More," 30 Mar. 2018
The virtual autopsy revealed that Tutankhamun suffered from a genetic bone wasting disease and a club foot, making him unable to walk unaided.

— james rogers, Fox News, "King Tutankhamun bombshell? Mysterious pharaoh may have been a boy soldier," 26 Mar. 2018
Located some 1,344 light-years away, the Orion Nebula can be seen by the unaided eye.

— National Geographic, "Take a 3-D Tour of a Space Cloud Full of Baby Stars," 11 Jan. 2018
Nineteenth-century people also struggled with things like addiction unaided—like John Stith Pemberton, the Georgia pharmacist who first brewed Coca-Cola syrup in his backyard on this night in 1886.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "Coca-Cola’s Creator Said the Drink Would Make You Smarter," 29 Mar. 2017
While many aspects of D.J.’s competence have been disputed in this case, his ability to slide across the floor unaided is not in question.

— daniel engber, Slate Magazine, "Talking Without Talking," 11 Apr. 2017
The 17-year-old from Patchogue, New York, was eliminated from the show in the semifinals but told his mother, Elizabeth, that the ability to walk unaided onto the stage and see faces in the audience gave him confidence.

— debra goldschmidt and susan scutti, CNN, "FDA approves gene therapy for a type of blindness," 20 Dec. 2017
What Stallings’ team lacked was pitching, and no vibrating coach was going to improve hitters of already high quality to such a degree that Philadelphia could overcome the opposition, presumably unaided, belting the ball all over the yard.

— steven goldman, Slate Magazine, "Let’s marvel at the deep stupidity of the Red Sox’s sign-stealing scheme.," 7 Sep. 2017
Otherwise, to unaided eyes, the planets will easily merge into one.

— andrew fazekas, National Geographic, "How to See a Rare Planetary Close Encounter," 26 Aug. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unaided.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unaided

1667

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

UNAIDED Defined for Kids

unaided

adjective un·aid·ed \ ˌən-ˈā-dəd \

Definition of unaided for Students

: without help : not aided

The star is visible to the unaided eye.

Learn More about unaided

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unaided Spanish Central: Translation of unaided Nglish: Translation of unaided for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up unaided? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

unaided

Definition of unaided

Recent Examples of unaided from the Web

First Known Use of unaided

UNAIDED Defined for Kids

unaided

Definition of unaided for Students

Learn More about unaided

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

slew

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

All the Hits

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

True or False?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

All the Hits

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

unaided

Definition of unaided

Recent Examples of unaided from the Web

First Known Use of unaided

UNAIDED Defined for Kids

unaided

Definition of unaided for Students

Learn More about unaided

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

All the Hits

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes