Definition

Not stabilized or made steady by a weight that keeps something balanced.

Example

The ship was unballasted, causing it to sway dangerously in the rough seas.

Conversation

I noticed that the boat felt a bit unballasted during our last trip.

Yeah, it was swaying more than usual, wasn't it?

Exactly! I think it needs some weight to stabilize it.

For sure, otherwise it could be pretty unsafe out there.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unballasted → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "ballast" (from Middle English *balast*, meaning a heavy material used to provide stability). The word "unballasted" means not having ballast or lacking stability.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'not' stable ('un-') because it lacks the heavy material ('ballast') that provides support.

Visually Confused Words