Unsupervised: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when describing a situation or task that is done without direct supervision or oversight by a person. Common in contexts where safety or quality checks are typically required.

• Children should not play in the pool unsupervised.
• The unsupervised machine performed the task efficiently.

Used to describe systems or mechanisms that can control or maintain their own operations or conditions without external input. Often seen in biological, ecological, or mechanical contexts.

• The ecosystem is a self-regulating system, maintaining balance naturally.
• The heating system is self-regulating, adjusting the temperature automatically.

Used for processes or systems that operate with minimal or no human intervention, often controlled by machines or software. Common in manufacturing, technology, and service industries.

• The factory uses automated assembly lines to increase production.
• Customer service has been improved by an automated response system.

Used to describe systems or entities that operate independently and have the capability to make decisions without human intervention. Often used in the context of vehicles, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

• The company is testing autonomous vehicles on public roads.
• The robot vacuum cleaner is fully autonomous, requiring no human control.

Use this when referring to a situation where there is no supervision or monitoring. It often implies a lack of control and can have a negative connotation.

• The children were left unsupervised in the playground
• The project failed because the interns were working unsupervised

Use this to describe someone or something that is self-sufficient and does not rely on others for support or assistance. It is generally positive and implies capability.

• After years of training, he became an independent researcher
• She runs an independent bookstore in a small town

Use this when describing someone or something that operates independently and makes decisions on its own. Often used in the context of machines, robots, or mature individuals.

• The autonomous vehicle can drive itself without human intervention
• The new team is quite autonomous, needing little guidance from management

This word is appropriate when describing someone or something that is not restricted or controlled by others, often implying liberty and the absence of confinement.

• She felt free after quitting her restrictive job
• The birds are free to fly anywhere they want

Best used when meaning that there is a lack of monitoring or guidance, especially in situations where potential risk is involved.

• Leaving children unsupervised at the playground can be dangerous
• The employees worked unsupervised

Used when highlighting the ability to work or function without assistance, focusing more on self-reliance and self-determination.

• She learned to solve problems independently
• The researcher conducted the experiment independently

Suitable for describing situations where an entity operates on its own, emphasizing self-governing and self-sufficiency, often in technical or formal settings.

• The robot can perform tasks autonomously
• The committee decided to function autonomously from the main organization

Commonly used in everyday language to describe scenarios where no oversight or management is present, often interchangeable with 'unsupervised' but more conversational.

• He completed the task without supervision
• Students should not be left without supervision during the exam