What does unabridged mean?
Unabridged means complete and not shortened. It is used for books, audiobooks, recordings, performances, and films to indicate that no material has been removed from the original. The word is especially important to listeners and audiences because edited versions can omit introductions, songs, scenes, dialogue, or explanatory material. Saying that something is unabridged often conveys not only greater completeness but also a sense of authenticity or fidelity to the source. The term is formal to neutral in tone and is commonly paired with words such as version, edition, recording, and audiobook. It is the opposite of abridged, which describes something shortened for convenience or brevity. Unabridged should not be confused with unbridled, which means unrestrained or uncontrolled and belongs to a different semantic field.
adjectiveNot shortened or edited; containing the complete text, performance, or recording in its original form.
- A complete or full-length version of a work, recording, performance, or text, without material having been removed.
"The unabridged edition includes the author's original introduction and several previously omitted chapters."
"The audiobook is unabridged and runs for nearly twelve hours."
"Fans were disappointed that the film adaptation was not completely unabridged."
The longest way to say “complete”: unabridged keeps every word, scene, and note in place.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How unabridged is actually used
Formal to neutral in register. It is especially common in publishing, broadcasting, music, and film, where it distinguishes a complete version from an edited or shortened one.
Easily confused with unabridged
An unabridged work contains all of its original material, whereas an abridged work has been shortened or edited.
Unabridged describes a work that has not been shortened, while unbridled describes something unrestrained or uncontrolled.