unspoiled

unspoiled — adjective

1. still in its original, natural state because human activity has not damaged or d

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

still in its original, natural state because human activity has not damaged or developed it, used especially of landscapes, beaches, forests, and historic towns

Example

The hiking trail runs through an unspoiled forest where deer and eagles still live.

Visitors come from many countries to see the unspoiled coastline before any hotels are built.

collocation: unspoiled coastline / unspoiled landscape

Common collocations
  • unspoiled countryside
  • unspoiled beach
  • unspoiled wilderness
  • unspoiled coastline
  • unspoiled scenery
  • unspoiled beauty
Synonyms
  • pristine

    emphasises perfect, original condition, often of a place that has never been touched

  • untouched

    suggests complete absence of human contact, slightly stronger than unspoiled

  • unspoilt

    British English spelling; identical meaning

Antonyms
  • spoiled

    damaged or made less beautiful by human activity

  • developed

    built on, with roads, hotels, or houses added

Usage Note

Most frequent in descriptions of natural scenery. The opposite is 'spoiled' (e.g., 'a spoiled view') or 'built-up'.

Common Mistakes

The unspoiled cake was still on the table.
The untouched cake was still on the table.
'unspoiled' for food is possible but less common; use 'untouched' for food that nobody has eaten.

2. not harmed or made less pleasant by something that could have had a negative eff

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

not harmed or made less pleasant by something that could have had a negative effect

Example

Hamza's joy at winning was unspoiled by a small mistake early in the race.

pattern: unspoiled by + noun phrase

The evening party was unspoiled by the drizzle because guests gathered under the wooden shelter.

Common collocations
  • unspoiled by
  • remain unspoiled
  • stay unspoiled
Synonyms
  • unaffected

    similar meaning but does not imply beauty or pleasantness; more neutral

  • undamaged

    focuses on physical or concrete harm rather than abstract negative effects

Antonyms
  • spoiled

    ruined or made less enjoyable by something

  • marred

    slightly more formal; having a flaw or blemish

Grammar Patterns

unspoiled by [something]

Usage Note

Commonly appears in the pattern 'unspoiled by + [thing that might cause harm].' The subject is usually an experience, event, memory, or quality.

3. not made arrogant, rude, or unpleasant by too much praise, success, or wealth; r

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

not made arrogant, rude, or unpleasant by too much praise, success, or wealth; remaining modest and considerate of others

Example

Despite becoming a famous singer at age nineteen, Yael remained unspoiled by the attention.

pattern: unspoiled by + success/fame/wealth

The wealthy family's children were surprisingly unspoiled — they shared their toys and thanked everyone.

Common collocations
  • unspoiled nature
  • unspoiled by fame
  • unspoiled by wealth
  • unspoiled by success
Synonyms
  • modest

    focuses on not boasting; more commonly used

  • humble

    suggests a low opinion of one's own importance; stronger than unspoiled

  • down-to-earth

    informal; practical and without pretension

Antonyms
  • spoiled

    behaving badly because one has been given everything one wants

  • arrogant

    behaving as if one is better or more important than others

Grammar Patterns

unspoiled by [success/praise/wealth]

Usage Note

Describes a person's character, not their behaviour in a single situation. The opposite ('spoiled') is far more common and usually describes children who are given everything they want.

4. still fresh and in good condition, not having decayed or gone bad, said especial

4.adjectiveB1
Definition

still fresh and in good condition, not having decayed or gone bad, said especially of food or perishable items

Example

The apples stayed unspoiled for two weeks in the cool, dark cellar.

We checked the milk and confirmed it was still unspoiled before breakfast.

collocation: still unspoiled (of food)

Common collocations
  • unspoiled food
  • unspoiled milk
  • still unspoiled
  • stay unspoiled
  • remain unspoiled
Synonyms
  • fresh

    the most common word for food that has not spoiled; unspoiled sounds more formal

  • edible

    safe to eat, not necessarily fresh or tasty

Antonyms
  • spoiled

    food that has decayed and is no longer safe to eat

  • rotten

    stronger than spoiled; suggests visible decay and bad smell

Usage Note

Far less common than synonyms like 'fresh' or 'not gone bad.' This sense overlaps with the everyday meaning of 'spoiled' (food that has gone bad) but is used in the negative.

Word family

  • spoil
    verbB1
  • spoiled
    adjectiveB1
  • spoiler
    nounB2
  • spoilage
    nounC1
  • spoilsport
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe places that remain in their original natural condition, but they differ in tone and usage. 'Pristine' suggests perfect, almost flawless original condition and is common in travel writing ('pristine beaches', 'pristine snow'). 'Untouched' carries a stronger sense that no human has ever been there ('untouched wilderness') and can sound more dramatic. 'Unspoiled' (or British 'unspoilt') is the most neutral and widely used of the three; it allows for some human presence — a village can be unspoiled even if people live there, as long as it looks natural and has not been over-developed. For example, you would say 'a pristine coral reef' to emphasise perfect undamaged beauty, but 'an unspoiled fishing village' to describe a place that is charmingly traditional rather than perfectly untouched.

pristineuntouched ↗unspoilt ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • unspoiled beauty
  • unspoiled landscape
  • unspoiled nature

Adverbs

  • beautifully unspoiled
  • largely unspoiled
  • remarkably unspoiled
  • relatively unspoiled

Phrases

  • remain unspoiled
  • stay unspoiled
  • keep unspoiled

Prepositions

  • unspoiled by

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to the past participle 'spoiled', from the verb 'spoil'. The verb 'spoil' came into English from Old French 'espollier' (to strip, to plunder), which traces back to Latin 'spoliare' (to strip of clothing or belongings). The meaning shifted over centuries from 'to rob or plunder' to 'to damage or ruin something's quality', and by the 1800s, the sense broadened to include food going bad. 'Unspoiled' appeared in the 1600s and originally meant 'not plundered' before taking on its modern meanings related to natural beauty, food freshness, and personal character.