Describing something that lacks a specific goal, aim, or intended recipient; not directed at a particular individual, group, or object. It suggests a broad, indiscriminate approach. This can apply to actions, data collection, advertising campaigns, or even scientific inquiries. The lack of a specific focus can sometimes lead to inefficiency or unintended consequences, while in other contexts it may be a deliberate strategy to uncover unexpected findings or reach a wide audience.
Untargeted meaning with examples
- The company's initial marketing strategy involved untargeted advertising, distributing flyers throughout the entire city rather than focusing on specific demographics. This broad approach resulted in a low conversion rate and wasted resources.
- In the early stages of the research project, data collection was deliberately untargeted; researchers gathered information from various sources without a pre-defined hypothesis, hoping to identify new areas of investigation.
- The new anti-virus software offered untargeted protection, scanning all files on a computer system for potential threats, regardless of their origin or type, but it sometimes flagged harmless ones as a result.
- The artist decided to use untargeted brushstrokes in the abstract painting, not aiming for a specific form or object, thus evoking emotion without the constraints of a defined subject, allowing the viewer to create their own meaning.
- The government's disaster relief fund was initially untargeted, providing aid to all affected citizens regardless of their specific needs or levels of loss, which unfortunately led to some misuse of the available funds.