unconscious

adjective un·con·scious \ ˌən-ˈkän(t)-shəs \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of unconscious

1 a : having lost consciousness

was unconscious for three days

b (1) : not marked by conscious thought, sensation, or feeling

unconscious motivation

(2) : of or relating to the unconscious

c : not possessing mind or consciousness

unconscious matter

2 a : not knowing or perceiving : not aware

b : free from self-awareness

3 : not consciously held or deliberately planned or carried out

an unconscious bias

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unconsciously

adverb

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unconsciousness

noun

See unconscious defined for English-language learners

See unconscious defined for kids

Examples of unconscious in a Sentence

He was knocked unconscious by a fall.
She was unconscious for three days after the accident.

Recent Examples of unconscious from the Web

At Google, Lipman spoke with a diversity and unconscious-bias expert who's working to change the culture.

— colleen shalby, latimes.com, "Workplace equality won’t happen if women have to fight for it alone," 11 May 2018
So much of our behavior is habitual, unconscious, and automatic.

— sean illing, Vox, "Sex robots are coming. We might even fall in love with them.," 11 May 2018
Both it and the heart-stopping drug are supposed to be given after a powerful sedative has rendered the person unconscious, but if the sedative does not work properly, the other two drugs can cause significant pain.

— author: denise grady, jan hoffman, Anchorage Daily News, "States turn to an unproven method of execution: nitrogen gas," 8 May 2018
The 80-year-old was found guilty by a Pennsylvania court on three charges: aggravated indecent assault: penetration with lack of consent; penetration while unconscious; and penetration after administrating an intoxicant.

— EW.com, "Janice Dickinson 'delighted' by Bill Cosby's expulsion from Academy," 3 May 2018
To Clark, predictive processing described the ways that mind, body, and world were continuously interacting in a way that was mostly so fluid and smoothly synchronized as to remain unconscious.

— naomi fry, The New Yorker, "The Mind-Expanding Ideas of Andy Clark," 26 Mar. 2018
The two remain in critical condition and unconscious.

— josh lederman, The Christian Science Monitor, "Trump administration reprimands Russia, expels 60 Russian diplomats," 26 Mar. 2018
The two remain in critical condition and unconscious.

— christine clarridge, The Seattle Times, "Russians turned away at Seattle consulate after Trump Administration announces closure," 26 Mar. 2018
Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter remain unconscious in critical but stable condition after the attack in the English city of Salisbury, which has sparked an east-west diplomatic crisis reminiscent of the Cold War.

— jill lawless and danica kirka, chicagotribune.com, "European Union leaders back Britain in blaming Russia over spy poisoning," 22 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of unconscious

1712

in the meaning defined at sense 2a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

unconscious Synonyms

Phrases

in the dark;

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

unconscious

noun

Definition of unconscious

: the part of mental life that does not ordinarily enter the individual's awareness yet may influence behavior and perception or be revealed (as in slips of the tongue or in dreams)

See unconscious defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of unconscious

circa 1912

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

UNCONSCIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

unconscious

adjective

Definition of unconscious for English Language Learners

: not awake especially because of an injury, drug, etc.
: not aware of something
: not intended or planned : not consciously done

unconscious

noun

Definition of unconscious for English Language Learners

: the part of the mind that a person is not aware of but that is often a powerful force in controlling behavior

UNCONSCIOUS Defined for Kids

unconscious

adjective un·con·scious \ ˌən-ˈkän-shəs \

Definition of unconscious for Students

1 : not aware

He was unconscious of being watched.

2 : having lost consciousness

I was knocked unconscious by the fall.

3 : not intentional or planned

an unconscious error

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unconsciously

adverb

She unconsciously tightened her grip.

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unconsciousness

noun

Medical Dictionary

unconscious

adjective un·con·scious \ ˌən-ˈkän-chəs \

medical Definition of unconscious

1 : not marked by conscious thought, sensation, or feeling

unconscious motivation

2 : of or relating to the unconscious

3 : having lost consciousness

was unconscious for three days

—

unconsciously

adverb

—

unconsciousness

noun

unconscious

noun

medical Definition of unconscious

: the part of mental life that is not ordinarily integrated or available to consciousness yet may be manifested as a motive force in overt behavior (as in neurosis) and is often revealed (as through dreams, slips of the tongue, or dissociated acts) — compare subconscious