unclothed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unclothed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is not wearing clothes, often in a literal or artistic context. Example: "The artist chose to paint a portrait of a unclothed figure to emphasize the beauty of the human form."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The villages of Copdock, Hintlesham, Levington and Nacton are infamous for their part in this terrible tale, the locality where the murderer dumped the women's unclothed bodies.

The Guardian

Called "The Naked Portrait", it explores the development, since the early 1900s, of pictures of the unclothed body.

The Economist

In September, America's Congress passed the "Video Voyeurism Prevention Act", which prohibits the photography of various parts of people's unclothed bodies or undergarments without their consent.

The Economist

Given that everyone ran around naked only a few thousand years ago, and that we all look more-or-less similar once unclothed, this is quite puzzling.One reason is that nakedness signals real or perceived sexual availability.

The Economist

Hélène Delangle, born into a humble family in 1900, left her dusty village in her late teens for the glamour of theatrical Paris where she worked as a nude model, a cabaret dancer and performed a high-wire act.Hellé Nice, as she called herself, went down a storm in the Paris music halls with her heart-stopping smile and svelte figure often unclothed.

The Economist

(Users must first buy genitalia for their avatars, who otherwise resemble Barbie and Ken dolls when unclothed).The growing popularity of social-networking sites is not entirely unrelated to sex, either.

The Economist

The upper bodies of both men and women were unclothed, though women sometimes wore a narrow cloth girdle around the waist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sculptured reliefs from the 2nd century bc show men and women with unclothed upper bodies wearing the sari wrapped around their hips and drawn between the legs in such a fashion as to form a series of folds down the front.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The term gymnastics, derived from a Greek word meaning "to exercise naked," applied in ancient Greece to all exercises practiced in the gymnasium, the place where male athletes did indeed exercise unclothed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The sacking of the Saxon nunnery of St .Osburga by the Danes in 1016 led to the founding of a monastery by Earl Leofric of Mercia and his wife, Godiva (Godgifu), in 1043; Lady Godiva is best known for her legendary ride unclothed on a white horse through the town.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They were left unclothed, in darkness, without heat or sanitary facilities; some were chained to the walls and flogged.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unclothed" in formal writing, consider the context. While grammatically correct, alternatives like "nude" or "naked" may be more appropriate depending on the tone and audience.

Common error

Avoid overusing "unclothed" as a euphemism when directness is needed. Sometimes, saying "naked" is more clear and less awkward.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unclothed" primarily functions to describe a state of being without clothes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound. Examples from news and encyclopedias illustrate its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "unclothed" correctly describes the state of being without clothing. As validated by Ludwig AI, it enjoys widespread usage across diverse contexts, notably in news and encyclopedic sources. While semantically akin to "naked" and "nude", the choice between these options hinges on the intended tone and setting. To ensure clarity and precision in writing, it's essential to select the term that aligns best with the context and audience, and use alternatives such as "nude" or "stripped" based on desired connotation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Naked

Direct synonym, emphasizing the absence of clothing.

Nude

Often used in artistic or clinical contexts.

Stripped

Implies the act of removing clothing.

Bare

Focuses on the exposed state.

Undressed

Similar to stripped, but can also describe a state.

Without clothes

A straightforward and literal alternative.

In the altogether

An informal, sometimes humorous, idiom.

Wearing nothing

Emphasizes the complete absence of attire.

Au naturel

French term often used in a sophisticated or humorous way.

Buck naked

An intensifier, implying complete nudity, often with a rural connotation.

FAQs

What does "unclothed" mean?

The word "unclothed" means not wearing clothes; naked or nude; with the clothes removed; stripped.

What is a more direct synonym for "unclothed"?

A more direct synonym for "unclothed" is "naked", which plainly describes the state of not wearing any clothing.

When might I use "unclothed" instead of "naked"?

While both describe the absence of clothing, "unclothed" can sometimes be used in contexts where a slightly more formal or less blunt term is desired. The term "naked" is generally more common.

Is it correct to say "partially unclothed"?

Yes, it is correct. "Partially unclothed" describes a state where someone is wearing some, but not all, of their clothes. Other similar phrases are "partly dressed" or "partially dressed".