undamaged

undamaged — adjective

1. not hurt, broken, or spoiled; staying in the same good condition as before, espe

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

not hurt, broken, or spoiled; staying in the same good condition as before, especially after a possible danger or accident

Example

Reema found an undamaged vase among the ruins of the old shop.

attributive: undamaged + noun (vase)

Sumin checked the package carefully; the contents were completely undamaged.

predicative: be + completely + undamaged

Common collocations
  • completely undamaged
  • undamaged goods
  • undamaged building
  • remain undamaged
Synonyms
  • intact

    emphasises that nothing has been broken or removed; more formal than 'undamaged'

  • unharmed

    used for both people and objects after a dangerous situation

  • unscathed

    suggests escaping harm in a dramatic or narrow escape; slightly literary

  • pristine

    suggests something is as clean and new as the original; stronger than 'undamaged'

Antonyms
  • damaged

    the direct opposite; harmed or broken in some way

  • ruined

    much stronger; damaged beyond repair

  • broken

    specifically of objects that have been split or shattered

Grammar Patterns

undamaged + noun

be / remain / stay + undamaged

verb of motion + undamaged (resultative)

Usage Note

Typically used for objects, buildings, packaging, or body parts after a dangerous event. Do not use for people or animals — use 'unharmed' instead. Common with intensifying adverbs such as 'completely', 'entirely', 'still', and 'perfectly'.

Common Mistakes

All the passengers were undamaged after the crash.
All the passengers were unharmed after the crash.
'undamaged' describes objects and structures, not living beings.
The undamaged car was still working fine.
The undamaged car was still in perfect working order.
'undamaged' already means in good condition; avoid redundancy with 'still working fine'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that has not been damaged, but they differ in scope and connotation. 'Undamaged' is the most neutral and practical: it simply states that an object, building, or body part was not harmed during an event. 'Intact' adds the idea that nothing is missing or broken — it implies completeness ('the seal was still intact'). 'Unharmed' works for people and animals as well as objects ('the driver was unharmed'), while 'undamaged' is rarely used for living things. 'Unscathed' is more dramatic, often suggesting a narrow escape ('emerged from the fire unscathed'). 'Pristine' goes further: it means something looks as clean and new as the moment it was made ('a pristine beach, untouched by tourism'). For everyday use with objects, 'undamaged' or 'intact' are the safest choices.

intact ↗unharmed ↗unscathedpristine

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in undamaged condition

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English by adding the prefix un- (meaning 'not') to the past participle 'damaged'. The word 'damage' itself comes from Old French 'damage' (loss, harm), which traces back to Latin 'damnum' (loss, harm, injury).