unexplored

USAGE SUMMARY

The word unexampled is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to places or things that have not been discovered or fully explored yet. For example: The ocean depths remain largely unexplored.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Due in September, M Train (Alfred Knopf) redirects the focus on Smith herself, her later musical life and her thus-far unexplored parallel careers as a wife and mother.

The Guardian - Film

For anyone outside the women's game, a close-knit and intensely private world largely unexplored in the national media, this may come as a shock.

The Guardian - Sport

"In 1870, South Africa was a largely unexplored territory of a million square miles peopled by a handful of white men," intones a voiceover at the beginning of the film.

The Guardian - Film

Through my involvement with the community I realised there's such a vast, unexplored world outside my doorstep.

The Guardian

For half the price of going up he could go down, to a world nearly as unexplored as space.

The Economist

With most of his life behind him, Els is wistful for the romance of youth, the guileless potential of nascent creativity, the mistakes unmade, the frontiers unexplored.

The Economist

The domain of "transient" objects, which pop on and off unpredictably, is almost totally unexplored, because of the usual way of doing optical astronomy: scheduling time on the telescope months in advance, and using giant telescopes with tiny fields of view.

The Economist

Half of the 150 licences granted last year fell into this category.The industry is also eyeing the few unexplored frontiers in the North Sea.

The Economist

This relatively unexplored frontier is thought to contain around four billion barrels of oil and gas (and that figure could increase if significant prospecting is done), but development is hamstrung by a lack of pipelines to carry oil and gas to shore.

The Economist

Some 22% of the sort of territory that might contain oil is still unexplored.

The Economist

To finance its operations, Premier is seeking to sell a 30% stake in its project to a potential partner.A three-way exploration agreement has been reached for nearly ten million largely unexplored acres east of the islands.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unexplored", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. Is it a lack of physical exploration, a lack of analysis, or a lack of utilization? Choose synonyms that best reflect your intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "unexplored" when the situation implies intentional neglect or avoidance. "Unexplored" suggests a neutral state of not being investigated, whereas terms like "neglected" or "overlooked" indicate a conscious decision to ignore something.

Linguistic Context

The word "unexplored" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they have not been thoroughly investigated or examined. Ludwig AI confirms this, as demonstrated in examples like "unexplored territory" or "unexplored potential."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unexplored" functions as an adjective used to describe something not yet fully investigated or examined. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English. It appears frequently in both News & Media and Scientific contexts, with a neutral register suitable for diverse applications. Related phrases like "untapped" and "uncharted" offer alternative ways to convey similar ideas, while avoiding misuse involves considering the specific context and desired nuance. Use "unexplored" to highlight the potential for discovery, innovation, or further investigation. With a high source quality score of 89 and an expert rating of 4.5, "unexplored" proves a versatile and reliable word in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

untapped

Focuses on resources or potential that haven't been used.

unexploited

Similar to untapped, but emphasizes the act of taking advantage of something.

uncharted

Implies a lack of mapping or documentation, often used for physical territories or abstract concepts.

unexamined

Highlights a lack of scrutiny or analysis.

uninvestigated

Emphasizes the absence of a formal inquiry or study.

undiscovered

Focuses on the lack of finding or revealing something that exists.

unfamiliar

Highlights the lack of knowledge or experience with something.

virgin territory

Uses a metaphor to describe a completely new and untouched area of study or opportunity.

new frontier

Similar to virgin territory, but suggests a challenge and potential for advancement.

terra incognita

A Latin phrase meaning "unknown land", often used in a formal or academic context.

FAQs

How can I use "unexplored" in a sentence?

You can use "unexplored" to describe areas, topics, or possibilities that haven't been fully investigated or utilized. For example, "The ocean depths remain largely unexplored" or "This research opens up new avenues in an otherwise unexplored field".

What are some alternatives to the word "unexplored"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "untapped", "uncharted", or "unexamined".

What's the difference between "unexplored" and "undiscovered"?

"Unexplored" suggests an area or topic that hasn't been investigated. "Undiscovered", on the other hand, implies that something exists but hasn't been found or revealed yet.

When is it appropriate to use "unexplored" versus "unexploited"?

Use "unexplored" when referring to areas or concepts that haven't been investigated. Use "unexploited" when referring to resources or opportunities that haven't been utilized for gain.