adj B1 Intermediate Uncommon

unfit

uhn-FIHT

Unfit (adj) means not suitable or qualified for a particular purpose or role. Example: “The judge ruled him unfit to stand trial.”

adj

Not suitable or qualified for a particular purpose or role.

"The judge ruled him unfit to stand trial."

"The old bridge was declared unfit for heavy traffic."

Not in good physical condition.

"Years of desk work had left him badly unfit."

How to use unfit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot suitable for something, or not physically healthy.

Common mistake

British English often uses "unfit" for poor physical condition ("I'm so unfit"), a sense less common in American English, which tends to say "out of shape."

Common pairings

unfit for purpose unfit to drive physically unfit

Word forms

unfitter comparative, more unfit comparative, unfitted past tense, unfits singular, unfittest superlative, most unfit superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The judge ruled him _____ to stand trial.

Etymology

From un- + fit.

Frequently asked questions

What does “unfit” mean?

The word “unfit” means not suitable or qualified for a particular purpose or role. In plain terms, not suitable for something, or not physically healthy.

How do you pronounce “unfit”?

“Unfit” is pronounced uhn-FIHT (/ʌnˈfɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “unfit” in a sentence?

Here is “unfit” used in a sentence: “The judge ruled him unfit to stand trial.”

What part of speech is “unfit”?

“Unfit” is an adjective.

Is “unfit” a common word?

“Unfit” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “unfit” have?

“Unfit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not suitable or qualified for a particular purpose or role.

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