Untouched means not affected, altered, or handled by anyone or anything. When archaeologists discover an untouched tomb, they find it exactly as it was sealed thousands of years ago, with treasures and artifacts in their original positions. When a chef presents an untouched cake at a party, no one has cut a slice yet.

The word suggests something in its original, pristine condition. A wilderness area might remain untouched by development, with no roads or buildings disturbing the natural landscape. After a big family dinner, if your broccoli sits untouched on your plate, everyone knows you didn't eat any of it.

Untouched can also describe something unaffected by experiences that changed everything around it. A town might emerge untouched from a nearby wildfire, or a single house might stand untouched after a tornado levels the neighborhood. In stories, a character might remain untouched by the corruption around them, meaning they kept their integrity while others didn't.

The word carries a sense of purity or preservation. Something untouched hasn't been corrupted, damaged, or changed from its natural or original state, which can make it valuable, whether it's an untouched forest, an untouched manuscript, or an untouched reputation.