unironed

IPA/ʌnˈaɪənd/
IPA/ʌnˈaɪrnd/

unironed — adjective

  • unironedpositive
  • more unironedcomparative
  • most unironedsuperlative

1. used to describe clothing or fabric that still has visible wrinkles because nobo

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

used to describe clothing or fabric that still has visible wrinkles because nobody has pressed it flat with a heated iron.

Example

Lucas wore an unironed shirt to the job interview, and he looked a bit messy.

unironed + shirt — common clothing collocation

Yumi folded the unironed laundry and promised herself she would deal with it later.

Common collocations
  • unironed shirt
  • unironed clothes
  • unironed fabric
  • unironed dress
  • look unironed
  • still unironed
Synonyms
  • wrinkled

    focuses on the creased appearance rather than the process of ironing; 'wrinkled' is more common and can also describe skin or paper.

  • creased

    highlights sharp folds or lines in the fabric, often caused by folding or sitting, not necessarily from lack of ironing.

  • crumpled

    suggests fabric that is pressed into many small folds, often from being crushed or stuffed into a bag.

Antonyms
  • ironed

    the direct opposite; fabric that has been pressed smooth with a hot iron.

  • pressed

    specifically suggests careful ironing, often done by a professional cleaner.

Grammar Patterns

unironed + noun (attributive)

be + unironed (predicative)

Usage Note

Can be used either before a noun (an unironed blouse) or after a linking verb (The trousers are still unironed). The word is less common in everyday speech, where 'not ironed' is more frequent.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe fabric that is not smooth, but they differ in cause and emphasis. 'Unironed' specifically means nobody has run an iron over the item — the wrinkles could be light or heavy, and the word is factual rather than judgmental. 'Wrinkled' focuses on the visual result (small folds or ridges) and can apply to skin or paper as well; it is more common in everyday conversation. 'Creased' suggests sharp, deliberate folds (e.g. trouser creases) or accidental lines from prolonged folding. 'Crumpled' implies the fabric has been crushed or compressed into many small irregular wrinkles, often from being stuffed into a bag. For example: 'Your shirt is wrinkled from sitting in the car' (natural creases from movement) vs 'Your shirt is crumpled because you left it at the bottom of your backpack' (crushed look).

unironed ↗wrinkled ↗creased ↗crumpled ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • look unironed
  • still unironed
  • leave something unironed
  • arrive in an unironed shirt

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by adding the negative prefix 'un-' (from Old English 'un-') to the past participle 'ironed', which comes from the noun 'iron' (the metal tool used for pressing clothes). The first recorded use of 'unironed' in this sense dates to the early 19th century, shortly after flat irons became common household tools.