unarmed

1 of 2

adjective

un·​armed ˌən-ˈärmd 

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)

unarmed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of unarm

Examples of unarmed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Scott Saetern — a 37-year-old unarmed man who was experiencing a mental health crisis at a gas station in June 2025 — eventually lost consciousness while in the backseat, and died the next day. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026

According to South Bend authorities, Notre Dame Police told them a male suspect was seen armed and reportedly pointing a gun at people, but when South Bend Police found a suspect matching their description, the person was unarmed. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Four years before Scott’s death, a neighborhood-watch volunteer in Florida had shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old boy with Skittles in his pockets. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

The series begins during a police intervention in which two officers shoot an unarmed teenager and decide to conceal what happened from their superiors. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unarmed

• alarmed
• disarmed
• unharmed
• armed
• charmed
• farmed
• harmed

Kids Definition

unarmed

adjective

un·​armed ˌən-ˈärmd 

ˈən-

: not armed or armored

unarmed civilians

also : not using or involving a weapon

unarmed robbery

Medical Definition

unarmed

adjective

un·​armed ˌən-ˈärmd 

: having no arms or armlike projections

an unarmed tapeworm