undetected

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'undetected' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that is used to describe something that has not yet been identified or noticed. For example, "The thief slipped away undetected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Genital herpes is particularly common in people aged 20-24, and while it's easily treated, they are few symptoms and, if undetected, it can cause problems during pregnancy.

The Guardian

He does not reveal how he fled Australia undetected, but said that he entered Syria via the Turkish border into Jarablus, a town in the northern Aleppo province.

The Guardian

Clinton went largely undetected in the Mexican restaurant, for example, and surveillance footage later showed she had been wearing sunglasses indoors.

The Guardian

Another 200 tonnes or so make it through undetected, supplying 90% of consumer demand in the United States.

The Economist

All three drones entered the country undetected by the South's army; one flew 130km before crashing on the east coast over six months ago (but was only reported last week).

The Economist

But it will also allow managers to use staff more efficiently and to put a stop to skiving that currently goes undetected.

The Economist

It was an embarrassment for Pakistanis that bin Laden was living in northern Pakistan and that the Americans went in to kill him without telling them and undetected.

The Economist

In the 17 biggest takeovers of the past year in America, options trading jumped to more than three times normal levels, on average, in the three days before the deal was made public, according to Bloomberg, a financial-information firm.Not every crime goes undetected.

The Economist

Perhaps the disease is less virulent than was first thought; in Asia many mild cases may have gone undetected since only those with serious symptoms tend to go to hospital.

The Economist

Might there be other frauds that have so far gone undetected?

The Economist

The software uses previously unknown tricks to worm its way into industrial control systems undetected, searching for a particular configuration that matches its target at which point it wreaks havoc by reprogramming the system, closing valves and shutting down pipelines.This is not fiction, but fact.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "undetected" to emphasize that something passed by without being noticed or discovered, often implying a failure in observation or security.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences where "undetected" seems to actively perform an action. "Undetected" describes a state of being unnoticed; for example, avoid saying "The thief undetected the security" and instead use "The thief passed by undetected by the security".

Linguistic Context

The adjective "undetected" primarily functions to modify nouns, describing something that has not been noticed, discovered, or identified. According to Ludwig, the word is considered correct and usable in written English. It commonly highlights a failure in observation or security.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "undetected" is a versatile term used to describe something that remains unnoticed or undiscovered. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. When writing, use "undetected" to highlight potential oversights or vulnerabilities and to emphasize the fact that something has passed without being noticed. Alternatives such as "unnoticed" or "unobserved" can be used to provide slightly different nuances, focusing on a lack of attention or visual detection, respectively. Avoid using "undetected" in active voice constructions, as it describes a state rather than an action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnoticed

Focuses on the lack of attention something receives.

unobserved

Emphasizes the lack of visual or sensory detection.

unrevealed

Highlights that something remains hidden or not made public.

unexposed

Suggests something is sheltered from being discovered.

concealed

Indicates a deliberate effort to keep something from being seen.

hidden

A general term for something not easily found or seen.

unidentified

Focuses on the lack of recognition or classification.

untraced

Implies the inability to follow or discover a path or origin.

unfound

Emphasizes the lack of success in locating something.

unrecognized

Highlights the failure to acknowledge or realize something.

FAQs

How can I use "undetected" in a sentence?

You can use "undetected" to describe something that was not noticed or discovered. For example, "The flaw in the software remained "unnoticed" for months" or "The spy moved "unnoticed" through the crowd".

What's a good alternative to "undetected"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "unnoticed", "unobserved", or "unidentified" as alternatives to "undetected".

Is it correct to say "go undetected"?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase "go undetected" is commonly used to indicate that something was not noticed or discovered. For example, "Many minor errors "go unnoticed" during the initial review".

What does "undetected" imply about the situation?

"Undetected" often implies either a failure to notice something or a deliberate effort to avoid detection. The specific implication depends on the context in which "undetected" is used.