undelivered

Undelivered is an adjective that describes something that has not reached its intended recipient or has not been completed as planned. In the context of mail and shipments, undelivered refers to items that could not be delivered to the addressee. Causes include incorrect or incomplete addresses, recipient not present at delivery, refusal, safety restrictions, or attempted delivery in inaccessible locations. Postal and courier services typically classify items as undelivered and may offer redelivery, hold at a post office, or return to sender depending on policy, service level, and time elapsed.

In digital communications, an undelivered message is one that has not reached its recipient due to issues such as network failure, mailbox capacity, blocking, or the recipient being offline. Some messaging platforms display an undelivered or failed status to inform the sender.

In business and everyday language, undelivered can describe promises, orders, or obligations that have not been fulfilled by the expected time. It is often used to discuss delivery failure under contracts, or to note that goods, documents, or services were not provided as agreed.

Undelivered contexts can involve logistics, telecommunications, retail, and legal arrangements, reflecting a gap between intended delivery and actual completion. The term is commonly contrasted with deliverable or delivery, which emphasize successful transfer or fulfillment.