Skip to main content
un-American

un-American

26 7.5
Against the values or interests of the United States
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnəˈmɛrɪkən/
  • US
: antiestadounidense
  • He looked in my eyes and said, "This bill is un-American."
  • simply un-American
  • un-American activities

It strikes me as such an UN American way to think.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The government's decision to limit free speech is considered un-American by many citizens.

  • Well, what they did to you is un-American.

  • What I'm worried about is how UN American this whole initiative is.

  • But I feel that this is un-American.

  • I think they are un-American.

  • Then it's un-American, isn't it?

  • I am fighting against un-American activities such as lynchings and denial of the vote.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Many will consider this an extremist view, and some will even declare it un-American.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The bill is un-American.

  • That's very un-American.

Synonyms

unpatriotic
vsun-American
23 6.4

Not showing love or support for your country

is applied to behaviour judged contrary to that country's values or interests
anti-American
vsun-American
  • Offensive
6.2

Disliking the United States or its policies

is judged as going against that country's characteristics, values, or interests
antinational
vsun-American
8.4

Opposed to their own country's interests or unity

is used specifically for things seen as contrary to the United States
antipatriotic
vsun-American
8.1

Not loyal to one's own country

is used for acts seen as against that country's values rather than loyalty

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Relating to the United States, its people and culture

How American

patriotic
107 3.3
American
∞ 1.0
un-American
  • US
26 7.5
anti-American
  • Offensive
6.2

Surface Forms

un-American positive

Morphology

un-American = American (transparent) = un + American

Clearly formed by the productive negative prefix 'un-' attached to the adjective 'American', yielding a straightforward opposite meaning.

Etymology

Un-American is built from un- meaning 'not' (as in unhappy) and American meaning 'of the United States'. So to call something un-American is to say it is 'not like' American values or ways, often meaning it goes against what people see as the country's character.