unfriend

verb

un·​friend ˌən-ˈfrend How to pronounce unfriend (audio)
unfriended; unfriending; unfriends

transitive verb

: to remove (someone) from a list of designated friends on a person's social networking website

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Be sure to hide your friend lists and even temporarily unfriend those who share your last name. Heather Kelly, Washington Post, 1 May 2022 Acquaintances unfriend adherents on Facebook, and in real life, after seeing one too many posts calling NASA a satanic psyop. Kelly Weill, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2022 In those cases, limiting your interactions with those posts through an unfollow or unfriend may be best. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 17 Nov. 2021 Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel said today is the day to unfriend them. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 17 Nov. 2021 Some had gone so far as to unfriend people who seemed particularly clueless. Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2021 People are very loath to actually unfriend or stop following a person altogether. Megan Marples, CNN, 26 Feb. 2021 While some people choose to take a social media hiatus and delete apps, others might just unfriend people who have different political views. USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2021 Ewell's alleged post, a screenshot of which was originally reported in The Virginian-Pilot newspaper, implored any Facebook friends who may have voted for Biden or are Democrats to unfriend him on the social media platform. Alec Snyder And Jonathan Kubiak, CNN, 17 Nov. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unfriend.' 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

2003, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfriend was in 2003

Dictionary Entries Near unfriend

Cite this Entry

“Unfriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfriend. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

unfriend

verb
un·​friend
ˌən-ˈfrend
: to remove (someone) from a list of designated friends on a person's social networking website
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!