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unfit

unfit

13 3.0
Not healthy in body or mind
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈfɪt/
translation icon : falto de forma
  • His lawyer will argue that he is mentally unfit to stand trial.
  • physically unfit
  • unfit and overweight
  • unfit for duty

Brain scans says these aren't guys who are unfit, unhealthy, like not fit to fight.

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Examples

  • Lucy was frail, unfit to go wandering through the woods alone.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • But once people think you're old and mentally unfit, you're toast.

  • I started off unfit, fat mess, doing one hour a day.

  • Four years in college and four in an office had left her unfit for this kind of work.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Of course, some persons are unfit ever to drive because of physical or mental defects.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Had a boxing match on Saturday night, Lost because I was unfit and didn't train properly.

  • Everything is filtered through this horrible haze; she feels unfit to be with other people.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Selfish pursuit of pleasure in extracurricular activities drains their energies, leaving these women unfit for the classroom's rigors.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • After a long illness, she felt unfit to join her friends for the hike.

  • The doctor said the patient's physical condition was unfit for any strenuous activity.

Synonyms

ill
vsunfit
632 1.0

Not feeling well because of sickness

is broader, meaning general poor physical or mental condition rather than disease
infirm
vsunfit
  • Formal
9 6.1

Weak in body, often because of old age or illness

is about general poor physical or mental condition, not mainly physical frailty
unsound
vsunfit
3 5.4

Physically damaged or unhealthy

refers to poor health or condition without stressing physical damage or danger
ailing
vsunfit
3 5.6

Having poor health and often getting sick

is a broader term for poor health, not only mild or recurring illness
incapacitated
vsunfit
6.3

Unable to move or act normally after illness such as an injury

refers to general poor health rather than complete inability to act or function

Antonyms

695 1.0

In good body and mind condition without sickness or injury

fit
91 1.0

Being in good physical and mental health

How Healthy

athletic
267 2.8
fit
91 1.0
healthy
695 1.0
unfit
13 3.0
unwell
18 1.0

Surface Forms

unfit positive
unfitter comparative
unfittest superlative

Morphology

unfit = fit (transparent) = un + fit

The adjective is a straightforward negation formed from 'fit' with the productive negative prefix 'un-'; learners who know 'fit' will understand 'unfit' as 'not fit' in the health sense.

Etymology

Unfit comes from the start un- meaning 'not' and the word fit, which means 'healthy' or 'in good shape'. So unfit means 'not healthy' or 'not in good physical or mental condition'.