Unpainted means not covered with paint, still showing the original surface. An unpainted wooden fence reveals the natural gray or brown color of the wood, with its grain and knots visible. An unpainted ceramic pot shows bare clay rather than colorful glazes.

Sometimes things are left unpainted on purpose. Furniture makers might leave wood unpainted to show off beautiful patterns in oak or maple. Artists might leave parts of a canvas unpainted to create contrast with painted sections. Other times, something remains unpainted simply because no one has gotten around to painting it yet, like the unpainted walls of a room being renovated.

The word can describe anything meant to be painted but isn't: unpainted toy soldiers waiting for hobbyists to add details, unpainted miniature houses in an architect's model, or unpainted sets backstage at a theater. When you see something unpainted, you're seeing it in its raw, natural, or unfinished state.