What does undesirable mean?
Undesirable is an adjective meaning that something is not wanted, welcome, or beneficial. It is used for qualities, behaviors, outcomes, effects, and features that people wish to avoid because they are inconvenient, harmful, objectionable, or simply judged unsuitable. The word is common in both formal and informal English and has essentially the same meaning and usage in British and American English. In phrases such as undesirable side effects, it identifies consequences that are unwanted or potentially harmful without necessarily implying a dramatic outcome. Undesirable can also describe people or traits, though it may sound more restrained than stronger terms such as hateful or repulsive. Its usefulness lies in its broad but clear negative force: it describes something that falls short of being attractive or beneficial without requiring a more dramatic judgment.
adjectiveNot wanted, welcome, or considered beneficial; often objectionable or likely to cause harm or inconvenience.
- Not wanted or considered beneficial; objectionable, harmful, inconvenient, or otherwise to be avoided.
"The new policy had several undesirable consequences for small businesses."
"Excessive noise can have undesirable effects on concentration and sleep."
"The committee recommended removing several undesirable features from the design."
Sometimes the most useful word for what you want less of is simply the one that says: not desirable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does undesirable come from?
The English adjective was formed by adding the negative prefix un- to desirable. Desirable came through French désirable from Latin desiderabilis, a derivative of desiderium, meaning desire or wish. The un- formation follows a productive English pattern for reversing an adjective's value, and the word has remained focused on qualities, outcomes, or traits that people do not want.
Related word forms
How undesirable is actually used
Undesirable is used in formal and informal English in British and American usage. It is often less forceful than words such as detestable or disastrous, but more specific than simply bad; its tone may range from mildly negative to strongly condemnatory.
Easily confused with undesirable
Unwanted primarily means that something is not wanted, whereas undesirable is broader and can describe anything judged unsuitable, harmful, inconvenient, or objectionable.
Unwelcome emphasizes that a person, situation, or outcome is not welcome, while undesirable can also apply to qualities, effects, or conditions that are generally undesirable.