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

One lawmaker Lackey’s unofficial bill title wasn’t lost upon was Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, D-Jefferson Park, a lawmaker who has spoken publicly about overcoming systemic barriers in his own life as a Black man and has centered his political career largely on criminal justice reform. —Andrew Graham may 28, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026

My recent feature on Fraser is the third in an unofficial series on women in banking. —Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026

Results are unofficial until certified. —Aaron A. Bedoya, USA Today, 27 May 2026

According to unofficial election results, Tarrant County voters resoundingly wanted Paxton and Middleton but were split over the race for railroad commissioner. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 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