Definition

The condition of not being in good health or not being reliable or safe.

Example

The unsoundness of the building's structure raised concerns about its safety.

Conversation

I read an article about the unsoundness of some financial practices.

Oh really? What did it say about that?

It explained how it can lead to major issues in the economy.

That makes sense; unsound practices can really cause a lot of problems.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unsoundness → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "sound" (from Old English *sund*, meaning healthy or safe) and "-ness" (meaning the state of). The word "unsoundness" refers to the state of being not healthy or not safe.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') being added to 'healthy' ('sound') to remember that 'unsoundness' means the state of being unhealthy or unsafe.

Visually Confused Words