adj
B1
Intermediate
unfriendly
uhn-FREHN-lee
Unfriendly (adj) means not friendly; cold or hostile in manner. Example: “The receptionist was surprisingly unfriendly to new patients.”
adj
1
Not friendly; cold or hostile in manner.
"The receptionist was surprisingly unfriendly to new patients."
"Relations between the two neighbours turned unfriendly after the fence dispute."
2
Not favourable or convenient; harmful to something.
"The plastic packaging is unfriendly to the environment."
How to use unfriendly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot warm or welcoming toward people, or not good for something (like the environment).
Common pairings
unfriendly staff
environmentally unfriendly
unfriendly to
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Word forms
- Plural
- unfriendlies
- Comparative
- unfriendlier, more unfriendly
- Superlative
- unfriendliest, most unfriendly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The receptionist was surprisingly _____ to new patients.
Etymology
From Old English *unfrēondlīċ, equivalent to un- + friendly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unfriendly
See all rhymes for unfriendly →Frequently asked questions
What does “unfriendly” mean?
The word “unfriendly” means not friendly; cold or hostile in manner. In plain terms, not warm or welcoming toward people, or not good for something (like the environment).
How do you pronounce “unfriendly”?
“Unfriendly” is pronounced uhn-FREHN-lee (/ʌnˈfɹɛn(d)li/ in IPA).
How do you use “unfriendly” in a sentence?
Here is “unfriendly” used in a sentence: “The receptionist was surprisingly unfriendly to new patients.”
What is the opposite of “unfriendly”?
The opposite of “unfriendly” — its antonyms — is friendly.
What part of speech is “unfriendly”?
“Unfriendly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unfriendly” come from?
The word “unfriendly” comes from Old English. From Old English *unfrēondlīċ, equivalent to un- + friendly.
How many meanings does “unfriendly” have?
“Unfriendly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not friendly; cold or hostile in manner.
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