# unrest

> English word · Noun · IPA /ʌnˈɹɛst/ · frequency rank #12,883

## Definitions
1. A state of trouble, confusion and turbulence, especially in a political context; a time of riots, demonstrations and protests.
2. Something that troubles or confuses; that which causes unrest.

## Etymology
From Middle English unreste, equivalent to un- + rest. Cognate with West Frisian ûnrêst (“unrest”), Dutch onrust (“unrest”), German Low German Unrüst (“unrest”). Compare also Saterland Frisian Uunraue (“unrest”), German Unruhe (“unrest”), Danish uro (“unrest”), Swedish oro (“unrest”), Icelandic órói (“unrest”). Compare also Old English orrest (“battle”), Old Norse orrosta, orresta (“battle”).

## Easily confused with
- **unseat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unrest-vs-unseat)
- **unmet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unmet-vs-unrest)
- **unless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unless-vs-unrest)
- **unreal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unreal-vs-unrest)
- **unjust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unjust-vs-unrest)
- **unread** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/unread-vs-unrest)
- **undress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/undress-vs-unrest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`nurest`, `unerst`, `unnrest`, `unresst`, `unrestt`, `unrets`, `unrrest`, `unrset`, `urnest`

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