untouched

Untouched is an adjective meaning not touched, modified, or interfered with by touch or contact, and often extending to not having been altered by human activity. In everyday use, it describes objects or spaces that remain in their original or pristine state, as well as ideas or emotions that are not influenced by external forces.

The word derives from the prefix un- attached to touch, with attestations from Middle English onward. It is commonly paired with nouns such as landscape, wilderness, artifact, or environment to convey a sense of natural or unmodified condition. In environmental discourse, untouched or pristine landscapes are used to describe areas with minimal direct human influence, though in practice most landscapes show varying degrees of alteration and management.

In archaeology and museums, "untouched" can be used to describe artifacts that have not been excavated or cleaned, or sites that have not been excavated or altered since discovery, though professional standards often advocate careful handling and documentation rather than complete preservation from contact.

In culture and media, untouched imagery or records may evoke purity, authenticity, or the passage of time. The term is sometimes critiqued for implying that nature or heritage can be free from human influence, which can overlook long histories of adaptation and stewardship by Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Overall, untouched conveys a contrast with touched or modified states, and its precise meaning depends on context, including whether it refers to contact, alteration, or influence, and what thresholds of "interference" are being implied.