Unsound Meaning
/ˌʌnˈsaʊnd/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNot sound
adjNot sound, Not whole, not solid, defective.
Sentence Examples
Tom's argument was unsound.
Your position is unprovable and unsound.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The engineer warned that the bridge's cracks made it structurally ____ and unsafe for traffic.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The judge ruled that the evidence was ____ and therefore it could not be used in the court case today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English sound English unsound From un- + sound.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In the ensuing financial panic, many persons sustained heavy losses, and large numbers of unsound schemes succumbed."
— 1946 September and October, “Speculation Run Riot”, in Railway Magazine, page 269:
"A striking example comes to mind, in which a scheme to improve the existing buildings finished up as virtually a complete reconstruction, owing to the unsound condition of the original structure!"
— 1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 255:
"While he is reasonably effusive about inter-city travel, he is heavily disparaging of all types of stopping service, including those on otherwise busy main lines. His analysis is not entirely unsound, and he tackles some of the questions head on."
— 2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 47:
"... A horse labouring under a temporary injury, capable of being speedily cured, is not unsound within the meaning of a warranty of soundness ..."
— 1822, Sir John Comyns, Anthony Hammond, A Digest of the Laws of England:
"You would not like Nietzsche, sir. He is fundamentally unsound."
— 1919, P.G. Wodehouse, My Man Jeeves:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The engineer warned that the bridge's cracks made it structurally ____ and unsafe for traffic.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The judge ruled that the evidence was ____ and therefore it could not be used in the court case today.