adj
Common
intact
ihn-TAKT
Intact (adj) means Whole and undamaged; not touched or spoiled in any way. Example: “Despite the long journey, the parcel arrived with its contents intact.”
adj
1
Whole and undamaged; not touched or spoiled in any way.
"I packed my belongings carefully so that they would survive the move intact."
"Despite the long journey, the parcel arrived with its contents intact."
"The old vase survived the move completely intact."
"Her reputation remained intact despite the rumours."
How to use intact
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStill in one piece — nothing broken, missing, or damaged.
Common mistake
Intact describes a whole thing that avoided damage, not something that was repaired afterward.
Common pairings
remain intact
kept intact
largely intact
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more intact
- Superlative
- most intact
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Despite the long journey, the parcel arrived with its contents _____.
Etymology
From Latin intactus, "untouched" — the negative of tactus, "touched" (the same root gives us "tactile" and "contact").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “intact” mean?
The word “intact” means whole and undamaged; not touched or spoiled in any way. In plain terms, still in one piece — nothing broken, missing, or damaged.
How do you pronounce “intact”?
“Intact” is pronounced ihn-TAKT (/ɪnˈtækt/ in IPA).
How do you use “intact” in a sentence?
Here is “intact” used in a sentence: “The old vase survived the move completely intact.”
What is another word for “intact”?
Words with a similar meaning to “intact” include uncut, undivided, unsevered and whole.
What is the opposite of “intact”?
The opposite of “intact” — its antonyms — is broken.
What part of speech is “intact”?
“Intact” is an adjective.
Where does the word “intact” come from?
The word “intact” comes from Latin. From Latin intactus, "untouched" — the negative of tactus, "touched" (the same root gives us "tactile" and "contact").
Is “intact” a common word?
“Intact” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between intact and complete?
Intact means whole and undamaged: nothing has been broken, removed, or spoiled. Complete means having every necessary part, but it says nothing about condition. A jigsaw can be complete, with all its pieces present, without being intact if some pieces are chipped.
Is 'fully intact' redundant?
Strictly, yes: intact already means wholly undamaged, so 'fully' adds nothing to the meaning. The phrase is very common in speech and journalism for emphasis, but careful writers often trim it to 'intact' alone.
What is the opposite of intact?
Common opposites of intact include damaged, broken, shattered, and ruined. The best choice depends on context: a vase that is not intact is broken, while a habitat that is not intact has been disturbed or degraded.
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