English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
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 notes

In plain EnglishNot warm or welcoming toward people, or not good for something (like the environment).

Common pairings
unfriendly staff environmentally unfriendly unfriendly to

Word forms

unfriendlier comparative, more unfriendly comparative, unfriendlier comparative, more unfriendly comparative, unfriendlies plural, unfriendliest superlative, most unfriendly superlative, unfriendliest superlative, most unfriendly superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “unfriendly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

Origin: Old English

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.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial