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unfastened
/ʌnˈfæsənd/
not securely attached
The unfastened seatbelt dangled loosely as the car came to a stop.
The seatbelt was not properly secured and was swinging freely.
neutral
not firmly attached or secured
She noticed the unfastened buttons on her coat and quickly fastened them.
The coat buttons were not done up properly.
The unfastened lid of the jar made it difficult to pour the liquid.
The jar's lid was not tightly closed.
Commonly used to describe physical objects like straps, buttons, lids, or fasteners that are not properly secured.
Collocations
unfastened strapa strap that is not securely closedunfastened buttona button that is not buttonedunfastened lida lid that is not tightly closed
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'unfasten'
'Unfastened' is the past participle/adjective form, while 'unfasten' is the verb. Compare: 'She unfastened her seatbelt' (verb) vs. 'The seatbelt was unfastened' (adjective).
Gold Rule
Check for physical context
Use 'unfastened' only when referring to objects that can be secured (e.g., belts, buttons, straps, lids). Avoid using it for abstract concepts like emotions or agreements.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'unfastened', past participle of 'unfastnen' (to unfasten), from 'un-' (prefix meaning 'not') + 'fasten' (to secure). The verb 'fasten' comes from Old English 'fæstnian' (to make firm), related to 'fast' (firmly fixed).
Usage Notes
Primarily used in physical contexts to describe objects that should be secured but are not. Rarely used metaphorically.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixfasten
to secure
root-ed
past participle/adjective suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary