Unfluoridated

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing a substance or material from which fluoride has been intentionally removed or is naturally absent, especially referring to water or dental products
2. Characterizing water, toothpaste, or other items that do not contain fluoride ions, either through exclusion or lack of addition
3. Indicating the state of lacking fluoridation, commonly applied to beverages or dental care agents that have not been treated to include fluoride for cavity prevention

Etymology: "Unfluoridated" is a plain English compound: the prefix "un-", meaning "not," attached to "fluoridated," the past participle of "fluoridate," which in turn is built from "fluoride" with the verb-forming suffix "-ate." Fluoride itself takes its name from fluorine, the element, whose name comes from Latin "fluere," meaning "to flow," a nod to the mineral fluorspar, which was used as a flux in smelting metals and so helped metals and ores melt and run. The word therefore describes water, toothpaste, or other products that have not had fluoride compounds added to them, or that never contained any. Its meaning is set by the process it negates: "fluoridate" refers to adding fluoride, so "unfluoridated" simply means the addition was not made.

Synonyms: non-fluoridated, fluoride-free, unfluorinated

Antonyms: fluoridated, fluorinated