unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfi-shəl 

also -ō-

: not authorized or acknowledged by a government, group, class, or society : not official

unofficial results

an unofficial policy

unofficially adverb

Examples of unofficial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And if there was any doubt about the unofficial competition for best outfit, their group made a convincing case. —Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026

China has blocked most South Korean entertainment since 2016 under an unofficial ban that also restricts movies and the country’s popular TV dramas. —Ken Moritsugu, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026

The unofficial queen of the flower crown, Vanessa Hudgens was spotted making her way through the crowd during Coachella 2012. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

The Charles has long been the unofficial stomping grounds for academics, politicians, artists, and celebrities passing through Cambridge during a visit to Boston. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unofficial

• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial
• superficial
• extrajudicial
• semiofficial
• initial

Medical Definition

unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfish-əl 

: not official

specifically : of, relating to, or being a drug not described in the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary compare nonofficial, official