intact

Intact is an adjective that denotes something not damaged, broken, or altered; still in one piece or complete, and often preserved in its original state. It can refer to physical objects such as a vase, a building, or a document, as well as to nonmaterial things like an ecosystem, a structure of rules, or a set of data or records. The term emphasizes wholeness rather than perfection.

Etymology: Intact derives from Latin intactus "untouched, uncut, unworn," via French intact. The sense in English centers on the absence of damage or modification caused by external forces. The word has been used in English since the early modern period.

Usage notes: In everyday language the phrase "still intact" is common; "intact" can stand alone as "the bridge remained intact" or "the documents arrived intact." Synonyms include whole, undamaged, complete, and unscathed; antonyms include damaged, broken, or ruined. The term is also used in specialized fields such as biology or archaeology to indicate that a specimen or artifact has its original structure preserved. A frequent pitfall is the incorrect form "in tact."