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Glite Dictionary
unvested

unvested

8.1
Not having the legal right yet to money, shares or benefits
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈvɛstɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no adquirido
  • Employees often lose their unvested benefits if they leave the company before their contract ends.

Examples

  • You will keep all unvested options that you currently hold.

    Margin Call (2011)

  • The agreement specifies that any unvested options will remain with the company if the employee resigns.

  • The unvested shares will not be distributed until you reach five years of service.

Synonyms

unentitled
vsunvested
8.7

Not having the right to something

refers to rights that are promised or pending but not yet granted or earned
uninvested
vsunvested
  • Formal
7.2

Having no official power or duties in a job

applies to legal ownership, benefits, or rights that are not yet granted or earned

Antonyms

vested
  • Formal
3 6.9

A right you already have by law or contract and cannot lose

How Vested

vested
  • Formal
3 6.9
unvested
  • Specialized
8.1

Surface Forms

unvested positive

Morphology

unvested = vested (transparent) = un + vest + ed

The adjective is formed by negating the adjective 'vested' with the productive prefix 'un-', yielding 'not having been granted rights'.

Etymology

Unvested comes from un- meaning 'not' and vest meaning 'to clothe' or 'to give official power', like putting on a vest of authority as in vested rights. So, if money, shares, or powers are unvested, they have not yet been officially given or earned.