What does unrealised mean?
Unrealised is an adjective meaning that something has not yet been made actual, achieved, or completed. Formed from realise with the negative prefix un-, it is semantically equivalent to unrealized and is often applied to hopes, ambitions, expectations, or possible outcomes. The word conveys possibility without accomplishment: an idea may be entirely credible, yet remain unrealised until it exists in practice. In financial contexts, unrealised describes a change in value that has been recognised for reporting purposes but has not yet been secured through a transaction, such as a sale. This distinction allows accounts to show what would ordinarily have been received if assets were sold at their current valuation. The term is chiefly associated with British English, where the -ise ending is standard. It is generally more formal and more specific than wording such as merely imagined, since unrealised things may genuinely be possible rather than fanciful. The word is especially useful when discussing incomplete projects and provisional financial results, where it clearly distinguishes a plan or recorded value from a completed outcome.
adjectiveNot realised; not yet achieved, brought into actuality, or completed.
- Not achieved or brought into actuality, especially of a plan, goal, ambition, or possibility.
- Not yet converted into cash or otherwise completed, especially of a gain or loss in financial reporting.
"The team's unrealised potential was finally given an opportunity to develop."
"Her plans for a book remained unrealised after the publisher withdrew."
"The company reported a sharp increase in unrealised losses."
An unrealised gain can make a balance sheet look richer without bringing a single pound into the bank.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of unrealised
Unrealised is an English formation combining the prefix un- with realised, which is derived from realise. Realise comes through French réaliser from Latin realis, meaning actual or real, while the -ise ending became conventional in British spelling. The corresponding North American form is unrealized.
How unrealised is actually used
This is more common in formal British writing than in everyday speech. It usually suggests a genuine possibility that has not become a completed outcome, and it can therefore carry a restrained or disappointed tone.
Easily confused with unrealised
Unrealized is the usual North American spelling, while unrealised follows the British convention of using -ise.
Unreal describes something that is not real or believable, whereas unrealised describes something that has not yet been achieved or made actual.