unlearned

adjective

un·​learned

for senses 1 & 2

ˌən-ˈlər-nəd 

for sense 3

-ˈlərnd 

1

: possessing inadequate learning or education

especially : deficient in scholarly attainments

2

: characterized by or revealing ignorance

3

: not gained by study or training

Synonyms

• ignorant

Choose the Right Synonym for unlearned

ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, untutored, unlearned mean not having knowledge.

ignorant may imply a general condition or it may apply to lack of knowledge or awareness of a particular thing.

an ignorant fool

ignorant of nuclear physics

illiterate applies to either an absolute or a relative inability to read and write.

much of the population is still illiterate

unlettered implies ignorance of the knowledge gained by reading.

an allusion meaningless to the unlettered

untutored may imply lack of schooling in the arts and ways of civilization.

strange monuments built by an untutored people

unlearned suggests ignorance of advanced subjects.

poetry not for academics but for the unlearned masses

Examples of unlearned in a Sentence

although the people of the farming community were largely an unlearned lot, they wanted an advanced education for their children

Recent Examples on the Web

But like any socialized behavior, this mindset can be unlearned. —Ruth Oh Reitmeier, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Those afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often behave in a manner which the unlearned (or uncaring) will immediately label as criminal. —Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 6 Sep. 2024

Although the 1973 commission’s report ran to 2,200 pages, some big lessons from 1973 may have gone unlearned—lessons that Israel needed to understand then and still do now. —Uri Kaufman, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2023

Observers are left similarly unlearned about how the case might be decided. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2023

The racial disparities have left public health experts and activists frustrated that lessons from the Covid-19 response remain unlearned. —Liam Stack, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of Cannes, Loznitsa explained why the unlearned lessons of the past always come back to haunt us. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2022

Still, there are lessons that remain unlearned. —W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 24 Feb. 2022

And, today, the Biden Administration is learning that lessons from the 2014 Red Hill fuel leak went unlearned. —Craig Hooper, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unlearned

• overturned
• unconcerned
• adjourned
• concerned
• discerned
• interned
• returned
• sunburned
• unburned
• unearned
• unturned
• upturned

Kids Definition

unlearned

adjective

un·​learned ˌən-ˈlər-nəd 

for sense 1,

ˌən-ˈlərnd 

 for senses 2 & 3 

1

: not learned : uneducated, illiterate

a good but unlearned man

2

: not learned by study : not known

lessons unlearned by many

3

: not learned by previous experience

breathing is unlearned behavior