Unwaxed means not coated with wax. You'll most often see this word on dental floss packages or describing certain fruits and vegetables.

When dental floss is unwaxed, it has no waxy coating, making it thinner and slightly rougher than waxed floss. Some people prefer unwaxed floss because it can fit more easily between tightly spaced teeth, though it may fray or shred more easily than the waxed kind.

For fruits like apples, lemons, and cucumbers, unwaxed means the produce hasn't been coated with a thin layer of wax. Growers often apply wax to make fruits shinier and help them stay fresh longer during shipping. When you buy unwaxed produce, you're getting the fruit or vegetable in a more natural state. This matters if you want to use lemon or orange zest in baking, since you'll be grating the peel directly into your recipe.

You might also see unwaxed describing candles, floors, or paper, though these uses are less common.