What does untried mean?
Untried is an adjective meaning that something or someone has not yet been tried, tested, or put into use. It most often describes a method, option, approach, or piece of equipment whose reliability has not been established by experience. The word can also carry a positive sense of openness and possibility: an untried path may suggest unexplored possibilities rather than mere ignorance. In legal contexts, an untried defendant or case is one that has not yet been heard or decided by a court. Because it emphasizes the absence of prior testing, “untried” generally implies that judgment should be cautious, although its connotation depends heavily on context. It is widely used in British and American English and is more formal than some everyday alternatives such as “new.” The word is especially useful when the distinction between something genuinely novel and something already proven by experience matters.
adjectiveNot yet tried, tested, or put into use. In legal usage, not yet tried or heard by a court.
- Not yet tried, tested, or put into use.
- Not yet tried or heard by a court.
"The engineers adopted an untried method that had never been tested under such difficult conditions."
"The team chose an untried approach to the problem."
"The defendant remains untried pending the hearing."
In court, an “untried” case is one no judge or jury has yet heard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does untried come from?
Untried was formed in English with the prefix un-, the verb try, and the participial ending -ed, literally meaning “not tried.” The verb try was borrowed into Middle English from Old French trier, although the ultimate origin of that Old French word is uncertain. Related English forms include retry and retrial, while trial belongs to the same historical try-and-trial family.
How untried is actually used
The word is neutral in register and common in British and American English. It often suggests that the reliability or effectiveness of something has not yet been established, but it can sometimes carry a positive implication of openness to new possibilities.
Easily confused with untried
Untried means never tried or tested, whereas untied means not fastened or not having a knot.