unhurt

Unhurt is an English adjective meaning not injured or harmed. It describes a person, animal, or object that has sustained no physical injury in an incident. It is also used as an adverb in phrases such as "walked away unhurt" to indicate that someone escaped harm.

In usage, unhurt overlaps with but is not identical to terms like unharmed and uninjured. Unhurt often conveys a sense of complete, immediate safety after an event and can sound informal or narrative. In more formal writing, authors frequently prefer unharmed or uninjured, depending on the context; unhurt may appear in news reports, dialogues, or storytelling.

Etymology: unhurt is formed from the prefix un- attached to hurt. The construction is common in Germanic-language vocabulary and has appeared in English for several centuries. Today, unhurt is still understood, though it is less common in formal prose and may carry a slightly archaic or conversational tone.

Related terms include unharmed, uninjured, and unscathed, each with subtle nuance. Unhurt emphasizes the absence of injury, while unscathed and unharmed can imply complete safety from damage or danger. See also standard safety and injury terminology for broader usage.