unconscious

[uhn-kon-shuhs]

adjective

1. not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition.

2. temporarily devoid of consciousness.

3. not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

   an unconscious impulse.

4. not consciously realized, planned, or done; without conscious volition or intent.

   an unconscious social slight.

5. not endowed with mental faculties.

   the unconscious stones.

noun

1. Psychoanalysis.,  the unconscious, the part of the mind containing psychic material that is only rarely accessible to awareness but that has a pronounced influence on behavior.

unconscious

/ ʌnˈkɒnʃəs /

adjective

1. lacking normal sensory awareness of the environment; insensible

2. not aware of one's actions, behaviour, etc

   unconscious of his bad manners

3. characterized by lack of awareness or intention

   an unconscious blunder

4. coming from or produced by the unconscious

   unconscious resentment

noun

1. psychoanal the part of the mind containing instincts, impulses, images, and ideas that are not available for direct examination See also collective unconscious Compare subconscious preconscious

unconscious

1. The part of the psyche lying far below consciousness and not easily raised into consciousness. In Freudian psychology, the unconscious cannot be directly observed with the conscious mind, but it has its own processes and deeply affects conscious thought.

Other Word Forms

• unconsciously adverb
• unconsciousness noun
• quasi-unconscious adjective
• self-unconscious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of unconscious¹

First recorded in 1705–15; 1915–20 unconscious for def. 6; un- ¹ + conscious

Example Sentences

Mr Pugh was left unconscious and it was then that she began her attempt to ensure his condition could not be linked to her.

From BBC

Emmanuel was reported missing Aug. 14 under suspicious circumstances after his mother said she was attacked and knocked unconscious outside a Big 5 store in Yucaipa, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

From Los Angeles Times

He was sedated and unconscious in hospital for three weeks, and continues to need specialist treatment.

From BBC

“Did we make some mistakes defensively? Sure. Was she just unconscious and playing at another level? Yes. Just kind of have to tip your hat.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rebecca Haro said she was attacked and knocked unconscious while changing her son’s diaper outside her vehicle in front of a sporting goods story in Yucaipa on Thursday evening.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• innate 
• instinctive 
• latent 
• lost 
• repressed 
• subliminal 
• suppressed