unpaired

adjective

un·paired | \ ˌən-ˈperd

How to pronounce unpaired (audio)

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Definition of unpaired

: not paired: such as

a : not matched or mated

b : being an electron that does not share its orbital with another electron

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Synonyms & Antonyms for unpaired

Synonyms

odd,
unmatched

Antonyms

matched,
paired

Examples of unpaired in a Sentence

found an unpaired shoe in the back of the closet

Recent Examples on the Web Hens and drakes pair up and spread out, looking to feed, roost, and loaf in places where they won’t be disturbed by unpaired males. — Joe Genzel, Outdoor Life, "Why Don’t We Hunt Ducks in the Spring?," 28 Aug. 2020 Charged molecules, systems with unpaired electrons and strange arrangements of atoms in otherwise common molecules have also been observed. — Ryan C. Fortenberry, Scientific American, "The First Molecule in the Universe," 1 Feb. 2020 Hillis’s slim handbook aimed to convince her reader that, with a stiff upper lip and a healthy dose of economic self-indulgence, being an unpaired woman could be not just tolerable but liberating. — Ashley Fetters, Curbed, "Living alone and liking it," 20 June 2018 The final cells were large eggs with 23 unpaired chromosomes, ready to fuse with a sperm cell containing a complementary set. — Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, "Researchers Mature Human Eggs in the Lab for the First Time," 10 Feb. 2018 When they are mixed, the two strands pair up, which leaves a large section in the center of the long strand unpaired. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Is that water drinkable? Fast test may hold the answer," 11 Oct. 2017 The sequence of the unpaired strand just happens to match a portion of E. coli's DNA. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Is that water drinkable? Fast test may hold the answer," 11 Oct. 2017 Unpaired males will attempt to force copulation during the egg-laying season. — Michael Forsberg, National Geographic, "Why It Matters Who Females Choose to Have Sex With," 18 June 2017 But, as the nest-building and egg-laying season approaches, unpaired males start causing trouble. — Richard O. Prum, The New Yorker, "Duck Sex and the Patriarchy," 17 May 2017

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

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Cite this Entry

“Unpaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpaired. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for unpaired

unpaired

adjective

un·paired | \ ˌən-ˈpa(ə)rd, -ˈpe(ə)rd

\

Medical Definition of unpaired

1a : not paired especially : not matched or mated

b : characterized by the absence of pairing electrons in the unpaired state

2 : situated in the median plane of the body an unpaired anatomical part also : not matched by a corresponding part on the opposite side

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