unexplained

USAGE SUMMARY

"unexplained" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that means not able to be explained or understood. You can use it as an attributive adjective to describe the object of a sentence, or as a predicative adjective. Example sentence: The scientists are baffled by the unexplainable events that have been occurring.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A spokesman said: "Energy companies don't seem to have got the message that their customers just won't accept opaque book-keeping and unexplained profits".

The Guardian - Money

They also involved several deteriorating patients – including a child – who received "sub-optimal care" before they died; an unexplained "patient accident outside A&E where a wheelchair collided with a van causing patient injury"; several unexpected deaths; medication errors; two newborns dying unexpectedly; and a failure to properly safeguard a vulnerable child and an adult.

The Guardian

I thought, most of all, of Oleg Bebenin, Sannikov's press secretary and close friend, founder of the Belarussian citizens' rights group Charter 97, who was found hanged at his dacha in 2010 with unexplained bruises on his hand, chest and back.

The Guardian

Examining him with a toy microscope, Leitao found him to be covered in unexplained red, blue, black and white fibres.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A journalist, TV presenter and bestselling author (Dreamworld, The X Files Book of the Unexplained), she moved into screen-writing five years ago (The Debt, X-Men: First Class).

The Guardian - Film

President Putin has shown up after an unexplained 10-day absence and, as one wag on Twitter said, looks in pretty good shape considering he died on Thursday, fathered a "love child" on Friday and was overthrown in a coup on Saturday.

The Guardian

Comparisons with what happened to their male counterparts after their 2003 World Cup triumph are therefore inevitable, not least because the head coach who had delivered success – in the women's case Gary Street – has left his role under somewhat unexplained circumstances.

The Guardian - Sport

Hungary's gas pipeline network operator FGSZ said late on Thursday that it had suspended supplies to neighbouring Ukraine indefinitely for technical reasons, a move Ukraine's state-owned gas firm Naftogaz described as "unexpected and unexplained".

The Guardian

The review was supposed to be unveiled in September but its unexplained delay has left the party with few details for how it will meet its target.

The Guardian

At the moment, the only scientific consensus is that it's real, and unexplained.

The Guardian

On Thursday the lord chancellor and justice secretary, Jack Straw, extinguished the ancient right of every citizen to a coroner's inquest in open court in the event of an unexplained death.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unexplained" to introduce areas where further research or investigation is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "unexplained" in conjunction with overly dramatic language that sensationalizes the topic. Maintain a neutral and factual tone, especially in scientific or journalistic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The word "unexplained" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate a lack of understanding or explanation for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable word. Examples include "unexplained profits" or "unexplained bruises".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unexplained" functions as an adjective signifying a lack of explanation or understanding. Ludwig AI validates it as grammatically sound and widely used. Its applications span news, science, and business, indicating versatility across diverse contexts. While alternatives like "mysterious" or "inexplicable" offer nuanced shades of meaning, "unexplained" directly addresses the absence of a clear explanation. Use it judiciously, maintaining a neutral tone to avoid sensationalism, and recognizing its role in highlighting areas needing further exploration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inexplicable

Stresses the impossibility of explaining something.

mysterious

Focuses more on the intrigue or obscurity surrounding something.

unaccounted for

Highlights the lack of a proper record or explanation.

unresolved

Emphasizes that an issue or question has not been settled or answered.

unfathomable

Suggests that something is too complex or deep to understand.

enigmatic

Implies a puzzle or riddle that is difficult to solve.

obscure

Indicates a lack of clarity or distinctness.

ambiguous

Highlights the presence of multiple possible interpretations.

undetermined

Focuses on the fact that something has not been definitely decided or established.

unclarified

Emphasizes the need for further explanation or clarification.

FAQs

How can I use "unexplained" in a sentence?

You can use "unexplained" to describe something that lacks a clear or understood reason. For example, "The sudden market crash was due to "unexplained factors"".

What are some alternatives to using "unexplained"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "mysterious", "inexplicable", or "unaccounted for".

Is it better to say "unexplained" or "not explained"?

"Unexplained" is generally more concise and commonly used, especially when describing a state or condition. "Not explained" is suitable when emphasizing the action of not explaining something.

What's the difference between "unexplained" and "unknown"?

"Unexplained" implies that there may be an explanation, but it hasn't been discovered or understood yet. "Unknown" simply means that something is not known, without implying whether an explanation exists or not.