undefeated

Undefeated is an adjective used to describe a person, team, or entity that has not experienced a defeat in a specified period or set of competitions. In many contexts, undefeated means no losses; draws are allowed depending on the sport, so a team can be undefeated with a combination of wins and draws. The term is commonly applied to seasons, careers, or streaks, and is often contrasted with defeated when listing records or milestones.

In sports, the label undefeated highlights consistency and resilience. It is often used for seasons that conclude without any losses, or for streaks that extend without a defeat. Famous examples include the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who completed a perfect season, and other teams noted for long unbeaten runs. In other domains, undefeated can describe competitors in tournaments, or individuals with unblemished records in activities such as chess or combat sports.

Etymology and usage: the word comes from the prefix un- meaning "not" and the past participle defeated; it has been used in English to convey the idea of having not been defeated in competition. In sports journalism, unbeaten is sometimes used interchangeably, though some style guides treat undefeated as implying no defeats, with draws possible. Related concepts include perfect seasons and unbeaten streaks.