unarmed

adjective

un·​armed ˌən-ˈärmd How to pronounce unarmed (audio)
Synonyms of unarmednext
1
: not armed or armored
unarmed civilians
also : not using or involving a weapon
unarmed robbery
2
: having no hard and sharp projections (such as spines, spurs, or claws)

Examples of unarmed in a Sentence

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.
Newton had previously shot and killed a 47-year-old unarmed man, Donnie Sanders, after a traffic stop near Prospect Avenue in March 2020. Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026 We should be asked how our youth retain the impulse to be free when trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and snipers are ordered to kill unarmed children demanding their human rights. Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026 The Attorney General's Office did not provide details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting, but AB 1506 requires the state DOJ to investigate any law enforcement shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed individual. Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026 In February 2016, Police Officer Peter Liang was convicted of second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting an unarmed man in a Brooklyn stairwell. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unarmed

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unarmed was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unarmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unarmed. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

unarmed

adjective
un·​armed ˌən-ˈärmd How to pronounce unarmed (audio)
ˈən-
: not armed or armored
unarmed civilians
also : not using or involving a weapon
unarmed robbery

Medical Definition

unarmed

adjective
un·​armed ˌən-ˈärmd How to pronounce unarmed (audio)
: having no arms or armlike projections
an unarmed tapeworm

More from Merriam-Webster on unarmed

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