What does untrust mean?
Untrust is a now uncommon English verb meaning to distrust—to refuse to place confidence in a person, institution, claim, or piece of evidence. In modern speech, “distrust” or “mistrust” is far more usual, and the verb “untrust” often carries a blunt, literary, or deliberately old-fashioned tone. The related noun “untrust” also exists in an archaic sense, denoting distrust or a lack of confidence, but it is not a common everyday noun. Untrust differs from ordinary distrust chiefly in frequency and register rather than meaning: both imply a withdrawal of belief or reliance. Its usefulness lies partly in showing how English can build a direct negative with the prefix un-: just as a statement may be untrue, a source may be untrusted. Historically, untrust developed in Middle English from un- and trust, reflecting an older and more productive way of expressing negation. Today it survives chiefly in formal, literary, or deliberately archaic writing, where it can convey distrust more emphatically than a softer verb such as doubt.
To distrust someone or something; to refuse to place confidence or reliance in them or it.
"The company had learned not to untrust data supplied by its oldest systems."
Chiefly archaic, literary, or emphatic. The common modern alternatives are distrust and mistrust.
Distrust or lack of trust; want of confidence.
"Years of mutual untrust had made cooperation impossible."
An archaic and usually uncountable noun. It is much less common than the noun distrust.
The noun is normally uncountable and has no commonly used distinct plural form.
"Years of mutual untrust had made cooperation impossible."
Untrust is the bluntest way to say “I no longer believe you,” and its rarity gives the verb a distinctly literary sting.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does untrust come from?
Untrust was formed in Middle English by combining the negative prefix un- with trust. Trust has Old English roots and belongs to a Germanic family of words associated with faithfulness, confidence, and protection; true also descends from the same broader etymological tradition. The verb is now chiefly archaic or literary, while the related noun is even rarer.
Related word forms
How untrust is actually used
The verb is now chiefly archaic or literary, although it occasionally appears in modern writing for emphasis. Modern speakers usually use distrust or mistrust. The noun is more archaic and rarely encountered outside formal, historical, or deliberately old-fashioned language.