# unless

> English word · Conjunction · IPA /ənˈlɛs/ · frequency rank #1,131

## Definitions
1. Except on a specified condition; if not.
2. If not; used with counterfactual conditionals.
3. Except if; used with hypothetical conditionals.

## Etymology
From Middle English unlesse, earlier on lesse (modern on + less), from (not) on lesse (than) (“(not) on a less compelling condition (than)”). The quality of negation in the word and the lack of stress changed on to un-.

## Easily confused with
- **unrest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unless-vs-unrest)
- **useless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unless-vs-useless)
- **unleash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unleash-vs-unless)
- **undress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/undress-vs-unless)

## Common misspellings (7)
`nuless`, `ulness`, `unelss`, `unles`, `unlless`, `unlses`, `unnless`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/unless