unambitious

Unambitious is an adjective used to describe someone who lacks strong long-term goals or drive for advancement, or a plan or outcome that is modest in scope. The term can be neutral, describing a person’s temperament or choices without moral judgment, but it often carries a pejorative tone when directed at individuals perceived as wasting potential or avoiding challenge. The opposite of unambitious is ambitious.

Unambitious derives from the un- prefix attached to ambitious, which itself comes from Latin ambitiosus meaning desirous of praise or advancement, via Old French and Middle English. The modern sense emphasizes negation of ambition.

In everyday language, unambitious can describe a person who prefers stable work, modest income, or limited goals. It can describe a project with limited scope: for example, an unambitious plan or an unambitious research agenda. In biographies or journalism, labeling someone unambitious can reflect cultural judgments about success, rather than a strict assessment of ability.

Attitudes toward ambition vary by culture and personal circumstance. Some view unambitious lifestyles as prudent, content, or focused on family and community, while others see them as a lack of motivation or potential. The term is most informative when contrasted with its opposite, highlighting the degree of aspiration rather than making a broad character judgment.