What does unperforated mean?
Unperforated is an adjective describing something that has not been perforated, meaning that it has no holes or openings made by piercing, boring, or punching. The word is especially associated with practical and technical materials such as film, sheets, packaging, and components that may later be perforated for use. In everyday contexts, it can also emphasize that an object remains physically intact or free from punctures. The prefix un- gives the word its negative meaning, while perforate refers to making a hole or opening through a material. Although accurate and useful in specialized writing, unperforated is relatively uncommon in general conversation, where intact, whole, or unpierced may sound more natural. Its distinctive value lies in identifying a condition precisely: the material or object has neither perforations nor any of the holes that such a process would normally produce.
adjectiveNot perforated; lacking holes or other openings made by piercing or boring.
- Not perforated; having no holes or other openings made by piercing or boring.
"The technician carefully removed the unperforated sheet before punching the required holes."
"The technician carefully removed the unperforated sheet before punching the required holes."
"The package was still unperforated when it arrived at the warehouse."
No sprocket holes, no bullet holes, no puncture: unperforated means the surface is completely unpierced.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of unperforated
Unperforated combines the English negative prefix un-, meaning “not,” with perforate, which comes from Latin perforare, “to pierce through.” Latin perforare was formed from per-, meaning “through,” and forare, “to bore.” The English negative prefix was applied to this inherited word to express the absence of perforations; no separate coined noun or verb form of unperforated became established.
How unperforated is actually used
Chiefly formal and technical, especially in descriptions of film, paper, packaging, and manufactured materials. It is less common in everyday speech than intact or unpierced.
Easily confused with unperforated
Unperforated means having no holes or perforations, whereas unperturbed means remaining calm or unaffected.