What does uncracked mean?
Uncracked means not cracked or broken and therefore still intact. The word is used literally for objects and surfaces that have no visible or actual fracture, such as an uncracked egg, an uncracked jar, or an uncracked piece of pottery. It can also have a broader figurative use, suggesting that something has not been damaged, weakened, compromised, or successfully defeated. In discussions of cryptography, for example, an uncracked code remains unsolved. Although unbroken is the more usual general term, uncracked is particularly effective when the specific possibility of a crack is being emphasized. The word is recognized in both British and American English and is most natural in contexts where the condition of something’s surface, structure, or integrity is central.
adjectiveNot cracked or broken; remaining intact. It can also suggest that something has not been damaged, compromised, or weakened.
- Not cracked or broken; remaining intact.
"The jar was still uncracked after the fall."
"The egg remained uncracked in its carton."
"The security team was still working on the uncracked code."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How uncracked is actually used
This adjective is especially natural when the presence or absence of a crack is relevant, as with eggs, pottery, surfaces, or coded messages. It is less common as a general synonym for unbroken, which is usually the more idiomatic choice.
Easily confused with uncracked
Uncracked means that something has not yet been cracked, whereas uncrackable means that it is difficult or impossible to crack in the first place.