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unexplained

adjective
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un·​ex·​plained | \ ˌən-ik-ˈsplānd How to pronounce unexplained (audio) \

Definition of unexplained

: not explained or accounted for an unexplained error an unexplained delay

Examples of unexplained in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And a similar SgrA*-orbiting body called G1 is also unexplained. — Nadia Drake, Scientific American, "Mysterious, Dusty Objects Are Swarming the Milky Way’s Core," 15 Jan. 2020 The season was full of curious things that went unexplained. — Scott Patsko, cleveland, "Ranking the unanswered Cleveland Browns questions after Freddie Kitchens’ one-and-done season," 4 Jan. 2020 For reasons that are still unexplained, the FBI did not do anything with the information for almost a year. — Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, "Report: USA Gymnastics never asked Simone Biles if she'd been abused by Larry Nassar," 22 Nov. 2019 In other words, the Pentagon says the aerial objects in the videos are simply unidentified, and for now, unexplained. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Navy Says Those UFO Videos Are Real," 16 Sep. 2019 Murray said the case is being investigated under the country's Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 which empowers the agency to probe unexplained wealth of public officials. — Amadu Lamrana Bah, CNN, "President's aide boasted about wealth in church, sparks corruption probe," 29 Aug. 2019 The attorney general’s office admitted in court that no board members were linked to wiretap evidence or found in possession of unexplained wealth. — Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, "The U.S. Funds Guatemalan Abuse," 19 Aug. 2018 In 2016, Riley Children's Hospital contacted police after Alberts' son, who was 15 years old at the time, was being treated for leukemia and developed persistent and unexplained blood infections. — Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana woman who injected feces into son's IV sentenced for battery and neglect charges," 26 Dec. 2019 The results were part of a regional push in 2018 to obtain data on WNV in ruffed grouse, which showed signs of an unexpected and unexplained population decline in late 2017 and 2018. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "West Nile Virus found in 29% of Wisconsin ruffed grouse in 2018 study," 22 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unexplained.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of unexplained

1721, in the meaning defined above

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Time Traveler for unexplained

Time Traveler

The first known use of unexplained was in 1721

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Statistics for unexplained

Last Updated

19 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Unexplained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unexplained. Accessed 20 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for unexplained

unexplained

adjective
How to pronounce unexplained (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of unexplained

: having no known reason or cause : not explained

See the full definition for unexplained in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on unexplained

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with unexplained

Britannica English: Translation of unexplained for Arabic Speakers

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