What does unregenerate mean?
Unregenerate is chiefly a formal, disparaging adjective meaning stubbornly unreformed: someone or something refuses to abandon an outdated, discredited, or objectionable way of thinking or behaving. The word often carries a moral judgment, suggesting not merely the absence of change but active resistance to renewal or repentance. In older religious writing, it could describe a person whose spiritual regeneration had not occurred; in political language, it was used especially of opponents portrayed as irredeemably conservative. As a noun, an unregenerate is a person characterized by this refusal to change. Although the word retains a recognizable connection to the idea of being made new, its modern use is more confrontational than neutral. It is most appropriate in literary, historical, institutional, or explicitly polemical contexts rather than ordinary description. Its vivid power comes from combining moral condemnation with the suggestion that reform is possible in principle but has been resisted.
Not regenerated; stubbornly unreformed, unrepentant, or unwilling to change.
"His unregenerate attachment to the old system made compromise impossible."
Formal and generally disparaging; now especially common in literary, historical, and political contexts.
A person who is stubbornly unreformed or unrepentant.
"The opposition branded him an unregenerate who could not accept meaningful change."
The noun use is less common than the adjective and carries a strong moral or political judgment.
The regular plural of the noun meaning people regarded as unreformed or unrepentant.
"The two unregenerates refused to acknowledge the need for reform."
Unregenerate applies regeneration’s promise of renewal to something stubbornly determined to remain unchanged.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unregenerate come from?
Unregenerate was formed in English from the prefix un- and a form based on Latin regenerare, “to make new again” or “be born anew,” ultimately associated with re- and generare, “to beget.” Early English usage developed religious senses relating to spiritual rebirth and moral renewal. Later, the word acquired a broader political meaning for an opponent regarded as unreformed or irredeemably resistant to change; regenerate, regeneration, and regenerative belong to the same root.
Related word forms
How unregenerate is actually used
The word is formal, literary, and generally disparaging. It was especially prominent in theological debate and later in political criticism, where it denoted an opponent considered irredeemably resistant to reform. Its religious and political uses can sound archaic in contemporary English.
Easily confused with unregenerate
Unregenerate is the conventional literary and political adjective for someone or something regarded as unreformed or morally resistant to change, whereas unregenerated more literally means not regenerated.