undeveloped

adjective

un·​de·​vel·​oped ˌən-di-ˈve-ləpt 

-dē-

: not developed : lacking in development

undeveloped natural resources

undeveloped potential

undeveloped film

undeveloped seeds

: such as

a

: not used for building, farming, industry, etc.

undeveloped land

an area of undeveloped wilderness

b

: having a relatively low level of industrialization and standard of living

undeveloped countries/nations

Examples of undeveloped in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Charlestown moves at a slower pace than many of Rhode Island’s busier beach towns, with long stretches of undeveloped shoreline and a distinctly low-key feel. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026

Pinney’s fantasies and visual metaphors are sometimes more poignant in concept than in execution, and a theme of Ray’s crude racist impulses is baldly inserted but left undeveloped. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026

This was only the second launch hosted by Maritime Launch Services at its still largely undeveloped spaceport in eastern Canada. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026

One of Sandy’s passion projects was protecting the last undeveloped northern shoreline along Big Bear Lake from development. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for undeveloped

• underdeveloped
• developed
• enveloped
• redeveloped

Medical Definition

undeveloped

adjective

un·​de·​vel·​oped ˌən-di-ˈvel-əpt 

: lacking in development : not developed

physiologically undeveloped