unavailable

1 of 2

adjective

un·​avail·​able ˌən-ə-ˈvā-lə-bəl 

: not available: such as

a

: not possible to get or use

a book that is currently unavailable online

The conference room is unavailable this afternoon.

b

: unable or unwilling to do something

—often followed by for or by to + a verb

Officials were unavailable for comment.

The manager is unavailable to speak with you right now.

unavailability

ˌən-ə-ˌvā-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

unavailability

2 of 2

noun

un·​availability ¦ən+ 

: lack of availability

the unavailability of medical supplies endangered the wounded

Synonyms of unavailable

Adjective

• inaccessible

Examples of unavailable in a Sentence

Adjective

the commander is unavailable right now

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But those companies were not receiving reimbursements from TSA while employees responsible for processing invoices were unavailable. — CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026

The offense has a new recipe this season that was unavailable to them a year ago. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2026

That same month, unplanned absences left eight of Sydney Airport’s 49 controllers unavailable and delayed roughly a third of inbound flights one morning. — Steven John, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2026

The information must be unavailable except under the conditions of anonymity imposed by the source. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1855, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unavailable

• available
• unsalable
• bailable
• mailable
• salable
• saleable
• scalable
• bioavailable
• unassailable