an undefended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an undefended" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that lacks defense or protection, such as a position or argument. Example: "The castle stood as an undefended relic of a bygone era." Alternative expressions include "a vulnerable" and "an unprotected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Suddenly, Kaberle was staring at an undefended net.

The New York Times - Sports

Fielder-Civil was granted an undefended decree nisi from the singer.

Independent

By shelling the old walled city of Dubrovnik, a Serbian-led national army, motivated by spite, threatens not only lives but an undefended cultural treasure.

The New York Times

But Guernica entered the world's vocabulary because of Picasso's tumultuous portrait and because this was history's first air bombardment of an undefended town, aimed solely at terrorizing civilians.

The New York Times

"It's an undefended border," said Wesley Wark, a University of Toronto historian who studies security issues, "and it always will be".

The New York Times

So an undefended or carelessly operated phone can result in a breathtaking invasion of individual privacy as well as the potential for data corruption and outright theft.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

After gathering a large coalition of peoples, Alboin crossed the Julian Alps in 568, entering an almost undefended Italy.

Wikipedia

Instead it is about performing in a totally undefended, courageous way.

The New York Times

In my first book, I thought it only right to describe the Philippines in a passionate, undefended, solicitous voice — to reflect what I saw in the place itself — and, five chapters later, to evoke Japan from a glassy remove, to speak for its cool and polished distances.

The New York Times - Books

Hume needs a further, undefended assumption to the effect that non-motivating processes cannot produce motivating states.

SEP

Instead we can cultivate a spacious, undefended, non-biased allowing.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure the noun following the phrase is something that would typically require a defense; using it for inherently safe objects can create unintended irony.

Common error

Avoid the mistake of using "a" instead of "an" before "undefended". Even though the word starts with a vowel letter, the rule is based on the vowel sound /ʌ/, making "an" the only correct choice. Additionally, do not hyphenate the phrase as "an un-defended" unless it is part of a complex compound modifier preceding a noun in a very specific technical context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an undefended" functions primarily as an adjective phrase serving as a noun modifier. According to Ludwig AI, it combines the indefinite article "an" with the past participle "undefended" used adjectivally. It is used to provide essential descriptive detail about the state of a noun, typically indicating a lack of resistance, guard or fortification.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "an undefended" is a versatile and grammatically standard phrase used to describe things lacking protection. Analysis from Ludwig AI shows that it is most prevalent in journalism and historical accounts, often referring to targets in conflict or sports. It is a precise term that carries a sense of opportunity or risk. Whether describing "an undefended" goal in hockey or "an undefended" border between nations, the phrase effectively communicates the absence of barriers. Writers should favor this phrase for its clarity and objective tone in both professional and creative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unprotected

Shifts the focus from a lack of active defense to a general lack of safety or physical barriers.

an unguarded

Often used when the lack of defense is due to a lack of oversight or surveillance rather than structural absence.

a defenseless

Carries a stronger connotation of helplessness or the total inability to resist an attack.

a vulnerable

Highlights the potential for harm or susceptibility rather than just the absence of defense.

an exposed

Suggests that the subject is open to the elements or observation as well as attack.

an unshielded

More technical or physical, implying the absence of a specific protective layer or screen.

a wide-open

Common in sports contexts to describe a goal or area with absolutely no defenders nearby.

a soft target

A military and security idiom for a person or place that is relatively unprotected and easy to attack.

an open-city

A specific historical and legal term for a settlement that has abandoned all defensive efforts to avoid destruction.

an insecure

Usually refers to a lack of psychological confidence or a failure in digital/logical systems.

FAQs

How to use "an undefended" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a target or position lacking protection, such as: "The striker took advantage of <a href="/s/an+undefended" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an undefended goal to score the winning point".

What can I say instead of "an undefended"?

Depending on your context, you might use alternatives like "<a href="/s/an+unprotected" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unprotected", "<a href="/s/an+unguarded" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unguarded" or "<a href="/s/a+vulnerable" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a vulnerable".

Which is correct, "an undefended" or "a undefended"?

The correct form is "an undefended" because the word "undefended" begins with a vowel sound. You should always use "an" in this case.

What is the difference between "an undefended" and "an undefendable"?

While <a href="/s/an+undefended" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an undefended target simply lacks current protection, an "<a href="/s/an+undefendable" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an undefendable" position is one that is impossible to protect regardless of effort.