1
: not armed or armored
unarmed civilians
also
: not using or involving a weapon
unarmed robbery
2
: having no hard and sharp projections (such as spines, spurs, or claws)
Examples of unarmed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the first decade of the 21st century, citizens played key roles in reporting several major stories, such as the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the 2005 London Tube bombings, and shootings of unarmed citizens by police.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
In May 2020, sheriff’s deputy Aaron Russell, who was assigned to the Central Jail, shot and killed 36-year-old Nicholas Bils as Bils fled, unarmed, after slipping out of handcuffs just outside the facility.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
The prosecutor said Chairez-Campos pumped multiple rounds into the unarmed victim’s body before making a move to flee and then returning to shoot him one more time in the head, Gennawey said.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The MPKs have no idea how to de-escalate the situation and fall back on what seems to be their default setting of being disproportionately violent toward unarmed fellow humans.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unarmed
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Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
In May 2020, sheriff’s deputy Aaron Russell, who was assigned to the Central Jail, shot and killed 36-year-old Nicholas Bils as Bils fled, unarmed, after slipping out of handcuffs just outside the facility.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
The prosecutor said Chairez-Campos pumped multiple rounds into the unarmed victim’s body before making a move to flee and then returning to shoot him one more time in the head, Gennawey said.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The MPKs have no idea how to de-escalate the situation and fall back on what seems to be their default setting of being disproportionately violent toward unarmed fellow humans.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unarmed
Cite this Entry
“Unarmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unarmed. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unarmed
adjective
un·armed
ˌən-ˈärmd 
ˈən-
: not armed or armored
unarmed civilians
also
: not using or involving a weapon
unarmed robbery
Medical Definition
unarmed
adjective
un·armed
ˌən-ˈärmd
: having no arms or armlike projections
an unarmed tapeworm
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