unconscious

1 of 2

adjective

un·​con·​scious ˌən-ˈkän(t)-shəs How to pronounce unconscious (audio)
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
unconsciously adverb
unconsciousness noun

unconscious

2 of 2

noun

: 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)

Examples of unconscious in a Sentence

Adjective He was knocked unconscious by a fall. She was unconscious for three days after the accident.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
What to do in an emergency In an emergency situation, if a person suspected of using inhalants is unconscious, Renny says the first step is to administer CPR and then to call 911 for assistance. Alex Clark, CBS News, 30 Sep. 2024 Cognitive biases—unconscious errors in thinking—can skew our interpretation of events. Anna Shields, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Noun
Keaton is still funny, and manic, and growling, but not unsettling — not something to tug at your unconscious in your dreams or your waking hours. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024 But a key factor distinguishing a work of art from artifice is that a work of art has an unconscious. John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for unconscious 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unconscious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

circa 1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unconscious was in 1712

Dictionary Entries Near unconscious

Cite this Entry

“Unconscious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unconscious. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

unconscious

1 of 2 adjective
un·​con·​scious ˌən-ˈkän-chəs How to pronounce unconscious (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not aware
unconscious of having made a mistake
2
: having lost consciousness
knocked unconscious by a fall
3
: not realized : not consciously done
an unconscious mistake
unconscious humor
unconsciously adverb
unconsciousness noun

unconscious

2 of 2 noun
: the part of one's mental life of which one is not aware but which may influence behavior

Medical Definition

unconscious

1 of 2 adjective
un·​con·​scious ˌən-ˈkän-chəs How to pronounce unconscious (audio)
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

2 of 2 noun
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on unconscious

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