Untraced

Adjective describing something that has not been located, discovered, or followed to its source. This implies an absence of evidence or clues leading to the subject's origin, whereabouts, or perpetrator. Often used in contexts of mysteries, disappearances, or crimes where efforts to find something or someone have been unsuccessful. The state of being untraced can result from deliberate concealment, loss, natural causes, or a lack of sufficient investigation, leaving the subject's fate or identity unknown. The term emphasizes the elusiveness or obscurity associated with the subject.

Untraced meaning with examples

• Despite an extensive investigation involving countless hours and resources, the ransom money remained untraced. Authorities were baffled, with no solid leads to follow, which has left the case unsolved. They were worried they might never get any kind of result or conclusion to the mystery. The criminals were never found, nor was the money.
• The origins of the strange signal detected by the radio telescope remained untraced, leading to wild speculation about alien life. Scientists tried to determine the source, but all attempts failed. The nature of the mysterious signal remained a subject of ongoing research, and much debate in the scientific community. Nobody could explain it.
• The shipment of stolen artifacts disappeared without a trace, and the valuable items remain untraced, frustrating art recovery experts. Every clue led to a dead end, and the investigation hit multiple walls. The black market became the main suspect in the mystery and everybody wondered if they could recover them.
• After the explosion, the cause of the fire remained untraced, leaving the investigators with a mystery. Even after sifting through the debris, the inspectors couldn't find any proof. It was determined that without such proof they would not be able to determine the true nature of the accident. The conclusion was never found.