Unburnt

Unburnt is an adjective meaning not burned or not burned to a noticeable extent. It is used to describe things that have not undergone combustion or scorching, preserving their original state. The term is common in British English, with American English typically using unburned; both forms are widely understood.

In everyday language, unburnt is often applied to food that has not been charred, such as unburnt toast, which remains pale rather than blackened. In construction, unburnt bricks refer to bricks that have not been fired in a kiln; they are typically air- or sun-dried and contrast with fired bricks. In ecological or land-management contexts, unburnt areas denote land that has not experienced a recent fire, as opposed to burned landscapes.

Etymology: the word is formed by the prefix un- attached to burnt, the past participle of burn. Burnt and burned are both used as the past participles; regional preferences determine which form is favored in a given context.

See also: burn, burnt, burned, char, scorch, sun-dried brick.