What does unsolicited mean?
Word: Unsolicited
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Unsolicited means given, sent or offered when nobody asked for it.
How do you spell unsolicited?
Syllables: un - so - lic - it - ed
Tricky part: The s sound in the middle is spelt with a c, so unsolisited is a common slip.
Watch out for: unsolisited, unsollicited
Memory tip: The c in unsolicited is a soft c, the same one you hear in city and pencil.
Unsolicited in a sentence
Example 1: Our neighbour gave unsolicited tips on parking the car, even though Dad has driven for twenty years.
Example 2: The company stopped sending unsolicited emails after its customers complained.
Example 3: Unsolicited praise from a coach can mean even more than praise you asked for.
Fun Fact
Spam, the everyday name for unsolicited email, is usually traced to a comedy sketch in which the word is repeated over and over.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
unsol_cit_d
a) i, i
b) e, e
c) i, e
d) a, e
Show answer
c) i, e. The first gap is the i of soli and the last is the e of the ed ending.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Grandpa smiled at the unsolicitted advice about watering his tomato plants.
a) tomato
b) unsolicitted
c) watering
d) smiled
Show answer
b) unsolicitted. Unsolicited has only one t near the end, just as visited does.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
unsolicited
a) welcome
b) requested
c) expected
d) uninvited
Show answer
d) uninvited. Something uninvited turns up without anyone asking for it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is an example of unsolicited help?
a) a teacher answering the question you asked
b) a friend you rang to come and fix your bike
c) a librarian finding the book you asked for
d) a stranger telling you how to tie your laces
Show answer
d) a stranger telling you how to tie your laces
2. Mrs Okafor received an unsolicited parcel. What is most likely true?
a) she had paid for it twice
b) she had not ordered it
c) she had collected it herself
d) she had wrapped it as a gift
Show answer
b) she had not ordered it
