unallocated

Unallocated is a term used to describe assets, funds, or space that has not been assigned to a specific purpose or beneficiary. It is common across domains such as information technology, finance, land management, and project planning.

In computing, unallocated space on a hard drive or solid-state drive is disk space that is not yet partitioned or formatted for a filesystem. It cannot be used to store files until it is allocated to a partition. Disk utilities can convert unallocated space into a new partition, extend an existing partition, or convert between formats.

In finance and budgeting, unallocated funds are cash or resources not yet earmarked for a specific department, project, or obligation. They may be held for liquidity, contingencies, or future needs, and must typically be approved or tracked to prevent misallocation.

In project and operations management, unallocated resources—such as personnel or equipment—are available but not currently assigned to tasks. They can be redirected to high-priority work as schedules shift or project scopes change.

In land and public planning, unallocated land refers to parcels not yet designated for a specific use, such as residential, commercial, or conservation purposes. Allocation decisions depend on policy goals, zoning, and development plans.

Because unallocated status implies potential for change, organizations monitor unallocated space or funds to optimize utilization while maintaining control and accountability. Typical actions include allocating, reallocating, reserving, or earmarking based on strategy and risk.