What does unopposed mean?
Unopposed means that something encounters no opposition, resistance, contradiction, or competing candidate. The word is especially common in political reporting, where an unopposed candidate is the only person officially standing for election. It can also describe a motion, resolution, proposal, or policy that is accepted without serious challenge. In everyday use, “unopposed” often means undisputed or uncontested, but it does not necessarily imply that everyone agrees or that the result was unanimous. For example, an unopposed candidate can still receive opposition votes; the term identifies the absence of a rival rather than the presence of universal support. The word is formal, clear, and useful wherever the presence or absence of competition or challenge is important.
adjectiveNot opposed, contradicted, or resisted; without opposition or competition.
- Not opposed, contradicted, or resisted.
- Not having to face opposition or competition, especially in an election or competition.
- Not challenged by a rival motion, proposal, or legal objection.
"The candidate won the election unopposed."
"The new policy was introduced without debate and passed unopposed."
"She ran unopposed in the municipal election and received a majority of the votes."
An unopposed candidate still needs to win votes; the phrase means there is no rival candidate, not that everyone agrees with the winner.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unopposed come from?
Unopposed was formed in English by combining the prefix un- with opposed. Opposed comes from oppose, which derives from Latin opponere, meaning “to put against” or “set against.” The prefixed form developed in English during the early modern period and originally expressed the absence of opposition or resistance. Its political sense, referring to a candidate or office with no rival, developed from the broader meaning of facing no opponent.
How unopposed is actually used
The word is formal and particularly common in political, legal, parliamentary, and competitive contexts. It can describe a person, candidate, proposal, motion, or decision.